CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

HrsioRiCAL Sketch of Arkansas 5-11 

Introductory — Early Explorations and l^ettlement — the 
Indians of v^ rkansas— Changes of Ownership— Arkansas 
behind the age — the AVar— Destiny of Arkansas — Sum- 
mary of the Transfer of Arkansas Territory— Decades of 
Population. 

ClI AFTER II. 

Geographical Sketch of Arkansas 12-19 

Name — Extent— Burface— Soil — Climate and Health- 
Timber. 

CHAPTER HI. 

Geological Sketch of Arkansas 20-27 

Geological Survey — Variety of Minerals — Coal Fields — 
Lignites— Salt— Hot Springs— Mammoth Spring— Kaolin 
—Marble— Slate— Iron— Lead and Silver Mines— Magnet 
Cove. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Agriculture anb Horticulture 28-81^ 

Seasons — Farm Products — Stock Raising — Dairy Pro- 
ducts — Sheep — Hogs. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER Y. 

Education, State Institutions and Railroads 40-50 

Public Schools— the Penitentiary— Deaf-Mute Institute- 
Asylum for the Blind — State Industrial University — 
Railroads. 

CHAPTER VI. 

United States Government La.^tds, &c 51-56 

State Lands— State Exemption Law — Railroad Lands — 
Public Roads. 

CHAPTER VII. 
Bilious Disorders, &c 57-59 

State Credit— Arkansas Securities— Game— a Monition — 
Suffrage— Economy. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Navigable Streams, &c 60-63 

Judiciary- Sj^stem — Taxation. 

CHAPTER IX. 
Description of Counties. 64-92 

CHAPTER X. 

The State Capital 93-94 

Principal Towns 94-100 

Fort Smith— Helena— Arkadelphia—Dardanelle — Bates- 
ville— Camden— Fayetteville. The needs of Arkansas- 
How to reach Arkansas— To the Immigrant— The Price 
of Labor. 



6-^ 



APPENDIX 



ACB. 



L.ist of Money Order Offices in the State 3 

List of Newspapers in the State 3-4 

The Name "Arkansas" 4 

Spadra Coal Mines -4 

State Products 5 

Price of Beef, &c « 

Crops of Arkansas, 1871 ti 

Average Cash Value per Acre B 

Total Average Cash Value of Staple Crops for 1870, in certain 

States and Arkansas 6 

Stock of Arkansas in 1871 7 

Table of Acres of each Staple in 1870 7 

Beet Sugar, Alpaca of Peru, Paints 7 

A remark for the benefit of Jas. P. Henry 8 

Government Land 8 

List of projected Railroads in Arkansas 8-9 

Abbreviations of the Names of Arkansas Railroads 9 

State Aid to Railroads 9 

List of Deaf Mutes in the State by Counties 10 

Our Insane 11 

Our new Senator, S. W. Dorsey 1^ 

County Seat of Yell County 12 

Sketch of Powell Clayton 13 



APPENDIX. 



Congressmen ...* *. 13 

The Legislature and Elections"^. 13 

Statistics of Arkansas 13 

Varieties of Oak 13 

Population of Arkansas by Counties; Baxter County 14 

Schools of the State 15 

Illiterate Population of the United States 15 

Illiterate Population of Arkansas 16 

The "Sleeping Beauty," W. J. Waggener IG 

Meteorological Tables, by McCluiig 17 

Rain Fall Tables 18 

List of Navigable Streams 19 

Bee Culture 19 

Reform School ; Pistol Chivalry 20 

State Historical Society 20 

List of State Officers of Arkansas 20-22 

Official Statement oT'the Debt of Arkansas 23 

Markets of the State 24-26 



:l6t 



ARKANSAS; 



THE 



j^OME FOP^ jMyVLIGI^ANTS 



A SKETCH OF HER RESOURCES. 



Railroads, Schools, Mines, Capital, and Chief Towns, 

Together ^^^ith inueh General Information 

Relating to the State, for the 

Benefit of Immigrants 

and her own 

People. to V. . , . 



Published by HENRY L. BURN ELL. 




1873. A 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the j^ear 1873, 

By HENRY L. BURNELL, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D, C. 



5 






Dedication 



TO THE 



THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANTS. 



WHOSE SIONET OF NOBILITY 



TS A STOUT HEART AND A WILLING HAND, 



WHETHER 



IN THE OLD WORLD OR THE NEW, 



THIS IMPERFECT PRODUCT OF HONEST LABOR 



IS CORDIALLY INSCRIBED 



PREFACE. 



This pamphlet is not written to tickle the ears of residents of 
the State, or as a medium to display rhetorical excellence, or to 
parade jingling phrases. It is not written in the interest of any 
particular town, county or clique; but with the sole view of 
turnishing, as far as possible, a valuable and reliable hand-book 
to the immigrant. It has not been the intention of the writer 
to oifend any one, though he has unhesitatingly and frankly 
written of things as they appear to him ; and, as he pays for the 
printing, he claims that privilege against the ^^ world, the flesh 
and the devil." Such as it is, he offers it to the consideration of 
the interested public, hoping that it may aid in the development 
and settlement of a long neglected but deserving State. 

FayettevilLiE, February 17th, 1873. 



ARKANSAS: THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Historical Sketch of Arkansas. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

Arkansas has not attracted a large share of the world's 
attention hitherto, either on the pages, of history or in any 
ether way, and we have met with no small difficulty in at- 
tempting to obtain the chief facts of interest relating to its 
history. While voluminous histories of other States have 
been written, with ornate elaboration of incident and detail, 
only the most scattering, meagre and unsatisfactory account 
of the early days of Arkansas is to be found, and that must 
be gleaned from sources which are neither as definite or cer- 
tain as the importance of such knowledge requires. Beset with 
these difficulties, we have yet been able to trace out, with- at 
least a reasonable degree of accuracy, the following brief out- 
line of the historical record of our State. 

EARLY EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENT. 

De Soto and his followers were the earliest white men 
who trod Arkansas soil, of which history has preserved any 
record. Setting sail from Havana with an army of six 
hundred men, in May, 1539, in due time he reached Tampa 
Bay, on the western coast of Florida. Leaving his ships he 
marched northward and then westward, through a trackless 
wilderness, engaging in frequent combats with hostile Indians. 
After a two years march, during which time his little army 
had nearly wasted away, De Soto reached the Mississippi river, 
near the point which now forms the southern boundry of 
Tennessee. This was in April, 1541. De Soto crossed the 
Mississippi and penetrated as far westward as the mountain 
region of Arkansas. He then marched southward, and spent 
the winter of 1541 on the banks of the Ouachita river. In 
the following spring he descended to the junction of the Red 
and Mississippi rivers, where he was seized with a malignant 
fever by which he died. He was buried by his men at the 
hour of midnight, in the mighty river he discovered. We find 
no record of any further explorations, until the 17th of May, 



ARKANSAS : 



1673, at which date Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette, two 
Jesuit Missionaries set out from Fort Michilimackinac, crossing 
Lake Michigan, and finally descending the Wisconsin river in 
a canoe, discovered the Mississippi on the 17th of June, 1673, 
and floated down its current to the mouth of the Arkansas. 
Marquette gives a very droll and entertaining narrative ot his 
voyage down the Mississippi. Here is what he says about-his 
mosquito experience. No one who has tried it will doubt its 
truth. 

" The air was alive with pestiferous swarms of these 
insects. The more we killed the more seemed to come. They 
got into our ears and around our necks, dashed into our eyes, 
and hair and mouth, crawled up our shirt sleeves and bit 
through our breeches, it was impossible to eat, look, talk, 
or sleep with any degree of comfort. A prayerful state of 
mind was out of the question. So to escape the tormentors 
we rolled ourselves up in thick blankets, legs, bodies, heads, 
and faces till nearly suflbcated; then as a change took to fresh 
air and bites, and when the bites became intolerable, went back 
again to sweltering blankets." Further along Marquette says, 
"We were received in a friendly manner by the Arkansas 
Indians, who have corn in abundance but little meat^ not dar- 
ing to hunt buffaloes, on account of the large war parties of 
their enemies scouring the prairies west of them. These Indi- 
ans were raising, in that warm climate, three crops of corn a 
year. We saw some ripe, more just sprouting, and more still 
in the milk." Marquette, in this connection, speaks of the 
Indians cooking their corn in grease, after having pounded it 
with a stone. Some of the natives of Arkansas, who inhabit 
the " Mississippi Flats, " have preserved the culinary process 
mentioned, in all its pristine attractiveness. Again says 
Marquette, -'These Indians used large well made earthen pots 
for cooking. They had plates also, made of baked earth. " 
The personal appearance of the Arkansas Indians, is thus 
alluded to by the same traveller. " The men were entirely 
naked, wore their hair cut short; their nor>es and ears were 
pierced and strung with beads. The women were dressed in 
wretched skins without ornament for their persons. " These 
Indians, it seems from Marquette's account, were in possession 
of fire arms, procured from the Spanish at the mouth of 
the Mississippi, " eight days journey by water below them " 
They stored their corn in " enormous gourds, as large as 
half barrels, " which they kept about their cabins. With- 
out attempting to trace further the adventures, or inter- 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 



esting uarrative of the daring Marquette, and his resolute 
companion, it is sufficient for our purpose to note the fact, 
that the first permanent white settlement was made by the 
French at Arkansas Post, on the Arkansas river, some fifty 
miles above its junction with the Mississippi, in the year 1685. 
We find 110 very definite account of this settlement, but the 
settlers appear to have intermarried very freely with their 
tawny neighbors, and. to have lived in a very simple and indo- 
lent way, at peace with their pipe and fellow men. Passing 
over the period from the date of this settlement to 1763, as it 
contains nothing farther of special importance for our purpose, 
we are able to trace with certainty, the history of Arkansas, 
from that time to the present. Prior to A. D. 1763, the conti- 
nent of North America was claimed by France, England, 
Spain, and Russia; France holding that portion now composing 
our national domain west of the Mississippi, except Texas and 
the territory we have procured from Mexico on the south, and 
Russia on tho north. This immense area, while held by France 
was designated and known as the " Province of Louisiana, " 
and embraced the present State of Arkansas. During the 
year 1763, at the end of the ''Old French War," France 
relinquished her share of the continent lying west of the 
Mississippi river, in favor of Spain, while Great Britain made 
conquest of Canada and the country northward, in the war 
with France. For thirty-seven years, the territory now com- 
prising the State of Arkansas, remained in the possession of 
Spain, but was ceded back to France by the treaty of St. Idle- 
phonso, made on the first of October, A. D. 1800. In the 
year 1803, the United States, under the administration of Pres- 
ident Thomas Jefi^'ersou, desiring to command the mouth and 
navigation of the iMississippi, and thus allay the dissatisfaction 
that prevailed in the West, consummated what is known as 
the "Louisiana Purchase." France, in consideration of the 
sum of 511,250,000, together with the Uquidation of certain 
private -aims held by citizens of the United States against her, 
amounting to the additional sum of $3,750,000, making a total 
of $15,000,000, transferred her title to our then young but 
thrifty '' Uncle Sam." It was a very fortunate thing for our 
country, that the pressing pecuniary wants of Napoleon gave 
our government a chance to add so vast and invaluable an 
area to its unsurpassed domain. October 31st, 1803, Congress 
empowered the President to take possession of the newly 
purchased territory, and provide for it a temporary govern- 
ment. March 26th, 1804, Congress provided for the division 



8 ARKANSAS I 



of the " liouisiana Purchase, " into two separate territories. 
All that portion south of the 33d parallel of JS'orth latitude 
was called the " Territory of Orleans, " and that North ot 
that parallel the "District of Louisiana." They were attached, 
for eJudicial purposes, to what was at that time "Indiana 
Territory." By virtue of an act of Congress, approved March 
3d, 1805, the " District of Louisiana " was organized as the 
'* Territory of Louisiana," with a territorial government of its 
own, which went into operation July 4th, 1805, and so remain- 
ed until 1812. In this latter year the " Territory of Orleans " 
was admitted into the Union as the " State of Louisiana, " and 
the "Territory of Louisiana" became the "Territory of 
Missouri " by virtue of an act of Congress, approved June 4th, 
1812. On March 2d, 1819, the portion of Missouri Territory 
now comprising the State of Arkansas, was organized into 
what was then called " Arkansaw Territory. " In 1821, a 
further portion of "Missouri Territory" was received into 
the Union as the " State of Missouri. " This left a vast 
domain, the remainder of the " Louisiana Purchase " on the 
north, including the present States of Iowa and Minnesota. 
The "Territory of Arkansaw" continued until June 15th, 
1836, when it was formally received into the Federal Union 
as a State. The progress of the State was hampered before 
the war of 1861, for the want of rail roads and business men 
of capital and enterprise. The spirit ot slavery, which has 
ever been a barrier to that advancement which only follows 
the footsteps of Freemen, played without doubt an important 
part in preventing Northern and Eastern capital from risking 
investments in the State, necessary to its developement and 
elevation from obscurity. The finances of the State, too, were 
very badly and indifferently managed by those who had them 
in charge. The "Real Estate Bank Swindle" is only one, 
but a familiar example of how the credit of the State was 
abused and depreciated during the reign of the oligarchical 
clique, who constituted the " State House King" " be fo' the 
wah. " In those days of bowie knife and six shooter chival- 
ry, it is not at all marvelous that Northern men of intelli- 
gence, refinement and business capacity did not feel any great 
temptation to embark their fortunes on the uncertain future 
of an almost unknown State. What immigration did come 
to the State, drifted in by a gradual process, so that we find, 
upon examination of the census tables, Arkansas had in 1860 
a population of only 435,450, in the aggregate, 111,115 of 
which was a slave population. At this period in the history 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 



of the State, though scheming specuh^.tors, theu as now, did 
an immense amount of rail-road building on paper, at the 
people's expense, none then, as now, accomplished anything 
worth speaking of in that direction, for we find that in 1860, 
there were but thirty-eight and a half miles of railroad in 
the State, and those in a most shabby and unserviceable condi- 
tion. If it had not been for the wonderful natural advanta- 
ges, in the shape of navigable streams, within the limits of 
her territory, Arkansas would to-day have been as obscure as 
she was in the good old days Avhen its citizens were legally 
permitted to make merchandise of their own kith and kin. 
Another prime cause of her tardiness in developement, was 
the absence of our beneficent common school system, the want 
of which kept the poorer classes, who were unable to educate 
their children at private schools, in a state of comparative 
intellectual torpor, and sometimes this was followed by a 
moral degradation that would be appalling to those who have 
been unaccustomed to observe it, and are hence unfamiliar 
with its pernicious contagion. Not to dwell upon an unplea- 
sant period in the history of Arkansas, let us simply notice 
the fact, that on the 6th of May, 1861, Arkansas was declared 
to have seceded from the Union, b}^ a body of hot-headed con- 
spirators, who could not but have been aware that the step 
was taken in opposition to the wishes of a majorit}^ of the 
legal voters of the State, for they refused to submit the ques- 
tion of secession to a popular vote, and though many who at 
first declared themselves in favor of the Union, afterward 
joined the confederate army, there is no doubt but what, upon 
a fair vote of the people of the State, the ordinance of seces- 
sion would have been defeated. During the war, Arkansas 
was made the theatre of conflict by the opposing armies, and 
although perhaps more distinguished themselves in " man}^ a 
fray and fierce foiay " upon sheep pastures and chicken coops 
than upon the sanguinary field, yet many an obscure mound 
attests the fact that there were those who " fought like brave 
men long and well," to say nothing of the cemeteries where 
the dead have been collected and systematically interred. 
Arkansas as a State, however, suti:ered in numerous ways, 
besides the loss of many of her most gallant sons in both 
armies. Towns were burned, mills destroyed, farms desola- 
ted, and propert}^ of all kinds more or less injured by the con- 
flicting armies, and still more by roving bands of ruflSans and 
thieves, who thronged the State and did their best to com- 
plete the work of destruction. Guerrilla parties, who often 



10 ARKANSAS I 



took advantage of the war to wreak some personal spite in 
tire or blood, ranged over the country, and the close of 
the war, with the return of peace, found Arkansas real 
estate depreciated on an average, fifty-live per cent. But 
we have not space or inclination to enter fully upon a narra- 
tive of the manifold injuries inflicted upon the State by the 
war; suffice it to say, it at last ended. Arkansas, on the 24th 
day of June, 1868, having complied with the requirements of 
Congress, was restored to the Union, together with the States 
of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and North and South Caro- 
lina. A state government was soon organized, and General 
Powell Clayton inaugurated as Governor. He held his position 
until the spring of 1871, when he was elected to the United 
States Senate, and Ozro A. Hadley succeeded him as Governor. 
At the election held November 5th, 1872, Judge Ehsha 
Baxter, of Batesville, Independence County, was elected to 
the gubernatorial chair by a small majority. The destiny of 
Arkansas is in her own hands. States, no less than individ- 
uals, are the architects of their own fortunes. It remains to 
be seen whether her law makers and rulers, taking counsel of 
their mutual interest, will intelligently and honestly recognize 
the fact, and conduct her to the magnificent future which 
nature has so clearly indicated should be hers, or whether they 
will consent to have her name and theirs, bandied about the 
world as a synonym for infamy. We cherish a fond hope that 
they will prove equal to the occasion, and acquit themselves 
like men. We present in conclusion, a summary of Arkansas 
history, relating only to the transfer of her territory, begin- 
ning with 1763. 

1st. In 1763, it belonged to France, who during that 
year, ceded it to Spain. 

2nd. In October, 1800, Spain ceded it, with other terri- 
tory, back to France, 

3d. The pressing needs of Napoleon, caused him to sell 
it to the United States for |15,000,000, in April, 1803. 

4th. In October, 1804, it was included in the District of 
Louisiana, and placed under the control of the '^Territorial 
Government of Indiana." 

5th. July, 4th, 1805, it was included as a part of the 
" Territory of Louisiana, " then organized with a separate 
territorial government. 

6th. It was next embraced in what, on the 4th of June, 
1812, became the " Territory of Missouri. " 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 11 

7th. On March 2d, 1819, the portion of Missouri Terri- 
tory now known as Arkansas, was organized into what was 
then called " Arkansaw Territory. " 

8th. This Territory continued until the 15th of June, 
1836, when it was formally received into the Union as a State. 

DECADES OF POPULATION. 

Total White and Colored in 1810 1062 

1820 14,300 

1830 30.388 

1810 97,574 

1850 209,897 

1860 435,450 

1870 484,471 

Estimated present population, Jan. 30th, 1873, 500,000 



CHAPTER II. 



Greographical Sketch of Arkansas. 

NAME. 

The name Arkansas is said to have been derived from 
an Indian tribe, now extinct, who spoke the Osage language, 
Kansas signifying a good potato, also smoky water in the 
Indian tongue. But the reader is referred to the Appendix ; 
title, " The Name Arkansas." 

EXTENT. 

Arkansas lies between the parallels of 33° and 36° 30' 
North latitude. It extends from the Mississippi on the East, 
longitude 90° 10', to the Indian Territory on the West, longi- 
tude 94° 40'. It is bounded on the North by the State of 
Missouri, on the South by the States of Louisiana and Texas, 
on the East and West as before stated. It will thus be seen 
that the latitude of Arkansas is the same as that of Ten- 
nessee, North Carolina, nearly the entire State of South 
Carolina, and the Northern half of Mississippi, Alabama and 
Georgia, while the longitude is the same as that of Iowa, 
Missouri and Louisiana. Its geographical advantages must 
come ere long to be more fully appreciated. Arkansas em- 
braces within her limits an area of 52,198 square miles, or 
33,406,720 acres. . Its length from North to South being 242 
miles, and its width varying from 170 to 229 miles.* 

It is estimated by those familiar with the State that at 
least three-fourths of this immense area is susceptible of cul- 
tivation. Thus it appears Arkansas is almost as large as 
England, and about twice as large as Scotland. 

SURFACE. 

The surface of Arkansas is remarkably varied. The 
Eastern part of the State, for a breadth of from 20 to 60 miles 
from the Mississippi, is a low, marshy plain, full of lagoons 

^Report of Commissioner United States General Laud Office, for 

1867. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 13 



and bayous, and subject as a rule to the annual overflow of 
the Mifisi^sippi and its tributaries. As you approach the 
central part of the State, the land rises into hills, finally 
enlarging into the terminal ridges of the Ozark Mountains, 
which rise to the height of about 2,000 feet. These moun- 
tains enter the State in the Northwest, and divide it into two 
unequal and unlike parts, one of which in its physical aspects 
assimilates to the Northern and the other to the Southern 
States. 

Portions of the State are remarkably picturesque and 
romantic in appearance, and the landscape painter finds as fine 
opportunity here as heart could wish. The Ozark Mountains 
attain an average altitude of about 2,000 feet above the level 
of the sea. The surface of the State is in most places cov- 
ered with a heavy growth of timber of numerous and valuable 
varieties. Occasionally considerable areas of prairie are found 
as in Arkansas, Prairie, Boone, Benton and Washington and 
some other counties. If some would object to Arkansas 
because it does not partake to a greater extent of the charac- 
teristics of the Northwestern States, let them remember that 
she possesses almost inestimable advantages over them in the 
shortness and mildness of her winters, her superabundant 
supply of valuable timber, her unrivalled network of streams^ 
most of them navigable for at least a portion of the year, her 
vast mineral wealth, the general healthfulness of her climate, 
especially in the Northwestern part of the State, and see if 
they do not agree with us that these advantages more than 
compensate for the labor of clearing up a farm, and promise 
better returns for labor and more comtort and enjoyment after 
it is performed. 

SOIL OF ARKANSAS. 

Within the limits of Arkansas, can be found almost every 
variety of soil, from the rich alluvial bottom lands, which 
border the lakes, rivers, and bayous, to the gravelly ridges of 
Boston Mountains. 

'i'he soil of the river bottoms, though wonderfully rich in 
fertilizing elements of an organic nature, is in many places 
somewhat uncertain as yet, in regard to crops, for want of 
proper levees and drainage. Where this difiiculty is not met 
with, from fifty to ninety bushels of corn is produced per acre. 
Lands of long proved richness, and apparently inexhaustible 
fertility, are found along the Arkansas, White, and St. Fran- 



14 ARKANSAS 



ces rivers ; though on the seemingly sterile ridges, crops are 
grown which would certainly astonish one who witnesses them 
for the first time. It is to the bottom lands however, that in 
times past Arkansas has been chiefly indebted. Fifty years 
of cotton and corn culture, does not seem to have decreased 
their fertility. Dr. Owen thinks they are annually enriched 
by the percolation of the water from the rivers, which are 
freighted with numerous fertilizing elements. The " Creek 
Bottoms" on the banks of many tributaries of the larger 
rivers, also possess marvelous productive powers. There is 
not much land in Arkansas so rocky or poor, as not to pro- 
duce something of value to its inhabitants. Even the poor 
land, as it is generally called, has hidden resources of wealth, 
of a mineral, or some other character, very frequently, which 
makes it prospectively, even more valuable than the rest. 

The lamented David Dale Owen, late State Geologist of 
Arkansas, says of the soil of the bottoms : " These lands are 
not excelled for fertility by^any in the world. " Speaking of 
the black sand soil in tlie northeast part of the State, between 
Crowley's Ridge and the Mississippi river, he says : " The 
black sand soil is remarkably deep and rich, and will yield, 
on new land, eighty to one hundred bushels of corn to the 
acre: it is a quick, warm soil, and stands both dry and warm 
seasons well. " 

. The soil of the valleys between the hills, called "ham- 
mock " or " second bottom," is good, but not as good as the 
first bottom. It, however, grows all kinds of crops well. 
The ridges, hills, and slopes, for frait growing and grazing, 
cannot be surpassed. JNo locality excells the northern and 
western portions of the State in the growth of timothy, blue 
grass and clover. Springs are abundant and the water is pure. 
Stock raisers, dairymen and fruit growers can find no better 
location. 

As the "proof ot the pudding" is rather in the eating 
than in any praises ot the cook, we refer those who have a 
mathematical turn of mind, to the statistics of the product- 
ions of the State, with amount per acre, value, &c., which will 
enable them to form a more intelligent judgment : or what 
would be still better evidence, come down here in the proper 
season, over the Cairo and Fulton railroad and examine the 
soil and crops for j^ourselves, and our word for it, you will go 
home with a higher idea of the low lands of Arkansas, if 
indeed, you do not wisely conclude to reap their smiling har- 
vests for yourself, and brin,4^ your wheelbarrow and remain. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 15 



CLIMATE AND HEALTH OF ARKANSAS. 

The climate of Arkansas in the Northern and North- 
western portions, is to some extent allied to that of the North- 
western States, though the winters are, as a rule, very much 
milder, and more agreeable, the autumns much longer and 
more free from cold winds and earl}^ frosts. The Southern 
part of the State has a climate very similar to that of Louis- 
iana. Along the streams in the bottom lands bilious diseases 
prevail to quite an extent, though persons who have become 
acclimated suffer but little, usually, from such disorders. The 
uplands, especiall}^ in the Northern and Northwestern parts of 
the State, are equal in salubrity and healthfulness to the most 
favored regions in North America. The rain-fall is copious,* 
averaging about sixty inches annually in the portion of the 
State bordering on the Mississippi, and decreasing to about 
forty-five in the West near the Indian Territory. 

In the central part of the State the climate is superior to 
that of any State in the country of the same latitude. 

An examination of the map of Arkansas will aid tlie 
reader to understand this. 

Locality is not by any means the only influence which 
determinates climate, for marked variations are perceived in 
points having the same latitude. 

The Ozark Mountains on the North break the force and 
check the progress of the cold winds which sweep down from 
the Northern prairies with such freezing recollections of 
glaciers, ice-bergs -and snow-plains. 

It is believed too, that the dry trade winds of the Gulf 
of Mexico, which sweep across the plains to the Westward, 
have a modifying influence on the climate, and affect the tem- 
perature of the Arkansas river, which flows diagonally 
through the State. We are confirmed in this view by the fact 
that LSitka, in Alaska, is said to be as warm in winter, as 
Washington, D. C. Such a phenomenon in temperature being 
doubtless caused by the Gulf Stream of the Pacific, the Japan 
Current, which carries the warm waters of the equator by the 
side of the Eastern coast of Asia, and across the ocean to 
America, and thence Southward along the coast to Sitka, 
whose temperature is very nearly that of Kinderhook, in New 
York. Still another modifier of the climate of the most of 
Arkansas may be found in the position of the Ozark Mount- 

*For statistics, see Appendix, title, "Rain-fall." 



16 ARKANSAS 



ains, which perform nearly the same otiice for Arkansas, that 
the Alps perform for Italy. These causes, combined perhaps 
with others, result in giving central Arkansas especially, a cli- 
mate in winter, almost unequaled, and a temperature several 
degrees above that of any other portion of the United states 
in the same latitude. 

The sea breeze from the South in the summer, also lends 
an invigorating quality to the air, and helps to neutralize the 
heat which otherwise would be far more severe. 

Occasionally sudden changes, known as "Northers," occur, 
as in the Southern sea-board States, but they are not usually 
severe, and are less frequent than cold storms and piercing 
winds in the most favored parts of the Forth. We have sel- 
dom, if ever, seen a person who came to this State from a 
more Northern latitude, -who was not highly pleased with the 
climate. It is one of the strong points of Arkansas, which 
may be justly and truthfulh" urged. Nor is it a matter of minor 
importance in selecting a home, for w^ithout doubt climate 
exerts a great inHuence on individual, as well as national dis- 
])!)sition and character, and the geniality of ours ought to 
cmmend it to all that class of people who, like Richard the 
III, came into "this breathing world scarce half made up," 
or who were, like Tristam Shandy, born under somew^hat 
embarrasing and unfortunate circumstances. In proof of this, 
we have only to consider that it is the rigor of the climate, 
which causes the dwarfed Esquimau to eat seal blubberand 
esteem tallow candles an epicurean luxury. It is the rigor of 
the climate, that compels the denizen of Minnesota to delve 
through the summer to provide food for his stock and family, 
to be exhausted through the long, cold, and blood-congealing 
winter. It is the rigor of the climate, that on the Jaleak and 
treeless prairies of Iowa, drives the pioneer, grumbling and 
shivering, to his almost comfortless cabin. 

Let it be known to the world then, that the climate of 
Arkansas permits comfort and labor in winter as well as sum- 
mer. Let it be heralded abroad, that in this respedt, as well 
as many others, she can proudly inscribe on her banners, 
"Excelsior," and cheeringly welcome the fur-clad and hiber- 
nating citizens of the mewed-up North, to warm and hospita- 
ble homes, that will not require the amount of fuel necessary 
to run a forty-ton locomotive, to keep them from being trans- 
formed in a jiffy, to bifurcated icicles, with their overcoats on. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 17 



TIMBER. 

In the matter of timber also, Arkansas can almost chal- 
lenge the world, both as regards variety and quality. There 
areas many as eighteen species of Oak, and ten of Hickory 
and Walnut, many kinds of Ash, both kinds of Locust, Pecan, 
Sycamore, Cyprus, Wild Cherry, of immense size; Mulberry, 
Black and Sweet Gums, Basswood, Beech, Holly, Sassafras, 
Persimmon, Maple, Pine, Cedar and Elms are not only found, 
but abound, in quantity and quality equal to any desire, and 
are admirably adapted to all kinds of manufacturing purposes. 
For all such products there is constant demand. 

Dr. Owen says : " So peculiarly indigenous does the 
Yellow Pine appear to be to the Arkansas soil that you will 
find it growing in river and creek bottom, side by side with 
the Gum, and on the argillaceous slopes, associated with Beach. 
The Osage Orange, or Bois d'Arc, is also indigenous. " 

To this country, the East must, in time, come for its tim- 
ber and woods; and one of the great freights in the future, 
will be these forest products. 

The surface of the country is usually covered with a 
heavy growth of timber on the bottoms, consisting of several 
varieties of oak, hickory, gum, pecan, elm, black walnut, 
maple and ash, with an undergrowth of spice, paw-paw, and 
large grapevines ; and the hilly and mountainous regions are 
covered with a growth of oak, hickory, maple and pine, 
remarkably straight, often fifty feet without a limb. Arkansas 
has untold wealth on her surface, in live growth of forest 
trees, sutficient to make her lumber interest of the first 
importance to the State. 

Some portions of the State are very heavily timbered 
with black walnut. It is of great value, and only wants cap- 
ital and labor to be added to the commercial wealth ot the 
State. 

Cypress grows on bottom lands, skirting the rivers, lakes 
and bayous. Some of these trees grow to an enormous size, 
making, in some instances, 6.000 feet of lumber to a single 
tree. It is an excellent timber for the manufacture of doors, 
etc., makes good shingles, and is used principally for that 
purpose. 

Most of the varieties of oak, grow luxuriantly. The 
white oak, and a species of oak called "overcup," resembling 
the white oak, grow large, often four or five feet in diameter. 
It is appHcable to all the uses to which oak is ever put, but, on 



18 ARKANSAS 



account of its large size, more particularly to the maDutacture 
of the pipe stave. This stave is worth, in New Orleans, |150 
per thousand. They are rived sixty inches long, six inches 
wide, and two and a half inches thick. 

With proper management, it seems as if enormous wealth 
should be accumulated in this business; the profit ought to be 
at least 100 per cent. This timber can be obtained conven- 
ient to navigable streams and in large quantities. 

Many other kinds of timber are found here — pecan, per- 
simmon, which grow large enough for saw-logs ; elm, hickory 
and cherry, all of which, as the country is developed, will 
seek their legitimate uses. 

Present price of Avood, from $2 50 to $4 00 per cord ; 
lumber from |12 00 to |20 00 per M. 

Red cedar grows in extensive brakes in the northern and 
western parts of the iState. It is to be found in large quanti- 
ties near the White river and Petite Jean. Of the commercial 
value of this wood it is unnecessary to speak. 

Yet with this variety of excellent timber, very little has 
been done toward turning it to a profitable account in manu- 
facturing. This State pays out, annually, near a quarter of a 
million of dollars for the single article of wagons, every dollar 
of which should he earned and kept in the 8tate. There are 
not to-day, a dozen wagon factories, of two horse pretensions, 
in the entire State ; nor a good plow factory, at all commen- 
surate with the needs of the people. We are free traders to 
our sorrow, and to the joy of the North and East, who turnish 
us with nearly every article we wear or use, from a shoe peg, 
up to a locomotive. If there ever was a State where the 
lesson that home manufactories are essential to healthy pro- 
gress has been taught, it seems to us that that State is Arkan- 
sas. The time is not far hence, however, when there will be 
a change. The class of people who have been resignedly 
waiting for something to turn up besides their toes, are about 
to be gratified. Railroads are coming — are even now here — 
and with them will come capital, enterprise, and population. 
With them, will come competition and activity in trade ; 
drones must then take a back seat — the ubiquitous Yankee 
from Connecticut and '' Varmount, " will be here with their 
needed ingenuity and untiring energy — if nc»t with their 
wooden nutmegs and pasteboard shoe soles. In short, we are 
soon to have a more progressive and creditable civilization. 
Railroads are popular educators. Every puff from the lungs, 
and every snort from the nostrils of the iron-horse, means 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 19 

business— progress— death to sloth. It quickens the pulses of 
ndividuals as well as States to be brought in contact with 
he thrilling whistle of the locomotive. Speed the day when 
t shall be heard all over the State. When our forests shall 
30 w to its coming — and hail a new era of life. 



CHAPTER III 



Geological Sketch of Arkansas. 



In this part of our work, we mnst, of necessity, be guided 
mainly by the labors of the lamented David Dale Owen, our 
former eminent State Geologist; for although we have nomin- 
ally had a person who has worn the honors and emoluments 
of the position, he has not, if we are correctly informed, done 
any thing that would cause the friends of Owen to be envious 
of his labors. Nor has he placed the people of the State 
under such a debt of gratitude, that they will erect a monu- 
ment to his memory to discharge it. Our sketch will be brief. 

In his introduction. Dr. Owen says: "Arkansas is a 
young State, and her geological survey is, in reality, only 
fairly commenced. If thus early in the work, we are able to 
report such flattering results, what may not be anticipated by 
thorough and minute detailed surveys. A comparison of her 
soils, as far as yet made, with a few collected in Iowa, Wis- 
consin, and Minnesota, shows that her soils are generally 
equally rich in fertilizing ingredients with those of the said 
States and that her best bottom lands are, in truth, richer. 
It is true, that in the hilly and mountainous regions of Arkan- 
sas, the surface is much more broken and rocky than in 
Iowa, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota. These States pos- 
sess a wonderful advantage in their general levelness of sur- 
face, unobstructed, for the most part, by surface rock ; but 
this is in a great measure counterbalanced by the diortness of 
the Arkansas winter, and the abundance of timber." Again 
he says : " There are resources of the State in ores of zinc^ 
manganese, iron, lead, copper, marble, whet and hone stones, 
rock crystal, paints, nitre-earths, kaolin (or porcelain clay,) 
granite, freestone, limestone, marls, green -sand, marly lime- 
stones, grindstones, and slate, which may well justify the 
assertion, that Arkansas is destined to rank as one of the 
richest mineral States in the Union. Her zinc ores compare 
favorably with those of Silesia; and her argentiferons galena 
far exceeds in percentage of silver, the average of such ores 
in other countries. Her novaculite rock cannot be excelled 
in fineness of texture, beauty of color, or sharpness of grit. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 21 

Her crystal mountains stand unrivaled in their extent, and 
their products are equal in brilliancy and transparency, to any 
in the world. The lover of the mineral kingdom may here 
possess himself of gems, that will vie in beauty and lustre 
with those of tlie Alps, Dauphine, Peidmont, and Carrara, in 
Europe ; or Ulster, Herkimer, Diamond Island, and Diamond 
Point in the United St.iies. 

COAL FIELDS. 

The Report of the Commissioner of the General Land 
Office, for 1867, estimates the area of Arkansas coal fields at 
12,000 square miles of the " anthracite, cannel,and bituminous 
varieties." According to Dr. Owen, the coal region of Sebas- 
tian County, has the thickest beds of any in the State. Along 
neatly the whole course of the Petit Jean Mountain Range, 
in Perry and Yell Counties, a seam of coal, from one foot to 
tifteen inches thick, can be traced. 

The coals of Arkansas are sub-conglomeritic; that is, 
they lie below the horizon of No. 1 coal of Kentucky sections, 
and are contemporaneous with the coals above the rapids of 
the Cumberland river, in Pulaski County, Kentucky. The 
coal basin ot the State lies along and on both sides of the 
Arkansas river. Washington, Sebastian, Franklin, Crawford, 
Johnson, Scott, Pulaski, Pope, Yell, Perry, Conway, White, 
Grant and several other counties, give promise of valuable 
coal mines, which only await the snort of the iron-horse, to 
call into the State both capital and men. This is what Owen 
says of the Sebastian County coal. ^'The coal is thicker and 
more extensive in this Cc>unty than in any other portion of 
Arkansas. The most important locality of coal in the County 
lies on the southern edge of Long Prairie, known as the Jenny 
Lind Coal, in the N. W. and S. E. quarters of Section 33, 
Town. 7, Range 31, W. A section of the coal taken from 
Green's bank, in the N. W. quarter of the above mentioned 
land was as tollows : 

''Rusty, ferruginous gray shales with iron ore, 5 feet 6 in. 
a streak of black shale; a few inches of coal ; a few inches 
of black shale. Upper member of main coal 2 ft. 5 in. Clay 
parting one inch. Lower member of main coal 2 ft. 2 inches. 
Coal rash a few inches." Making the coal 4 ft. 7 inches thick. 
It sometimes exceeds 6 feet, and Henry says nine feet, which 
perhaps will need to be docked a little, and set down to his 
exuberant fancy, as we are not aware that he owns any which 
he desires to sell. 



22 ARKANSAS : 



The following is a chemical analj^sis of a specimen from 
the upper member of this bank. 

Volatile Matter ^^-'^{aas!^^ V.'.lksS 

t^^^^r. Qa OK f Fixed Carbon. 82.25 
^^^^ ^^-^n Ashes 4.00 

100.00 

It occurs to us that possibly Henry may have mistaken 
gas for coal, since looking at the analysis. 

This coal swelled up a good deal in coking, and gave off a 
gas, which burned with a strong flame. It is semi-bitumi- 
noas and very valuable, far richer in its carbon than most of 
the coals in the Western States. 

LIGNITE, 

*'In the south-eastern part of the State, there are extensive 
beds of lignites, which will become valuable in the future, 
especially for the use of steamboats in die navigation of the 
rivers." The lignites of Arkansas are usually found near the 
base of the Tertiary Measures, and contain from fifty-three to 
fifty- seven per cent, of carbon. In Green, Dallas and other 
counties are extensive beds. They have been formed by the 
deposition of masses of wood by water, or some other agency. 

SALT. 

" Salt springs have been worked for years in Dallas and 
Hot Springs Counties, and there is every reason to believe 
that an abundant supply of brine may be obtained on boring 
deeper." The salt works of Hot Springs and Dallas Counties, 
deserve the attention of the shippers and business men of the 
State. 

HOT SPRINGS. 

Among the most remarkable of the natural wonders of 
Arkansas, are the Hot Springs. The cures produced by them 
are wonderful. Cases of old chronic diseases, that have stub- 
bornly resisted all attempts at cure by the profession, yield as 
if by magic to this great natural medicator. The Hon. James 
Hinds, in his speech in the House of Representatives, July 25, 
1868, said : 

" These springs are fifty-four in number, having a tem- 
perature varying from 93 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, and 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 23 

discharging three hundred and seventeen gallons per minute. 
The amount discharged from each, varies, but they are all 
qualitively aUied. It is esteemed by eminent medical gentle- 
men that there are over one hundred thousand afflicted per- 
sons in the United States who cannot be permanently cured 
except by a use of these waters , and the day is not far distant 
when a great city will rise on this mountain slope, which will 
be the Baden-Baden of America. Here, where the salubrity 
of the climate is unsurpassed, especially in the summer season, 
and where the long genial twilights are inspiringly refreshing, 
will come the pleasure seekeis from all parts of the w^orld ; 
and here will resort, from year to year, the millions of afflicted 
from all lands, to be healed of their many infirmaties." 

Dr. Iiawrence, a resident physician says : " The properties 
of these waters depend not alone on their caloric qualities, but 
the springs all contain carbonates of the alkalies, and alka- 
line earth, agents well known to theraputists to possess an 
active aliminative agency ; consequently they produce valu- 
able alterative effects in chronic diseases. Rheumatism, gout, 
stiff joints, contraction of the muscles and skin, old wounds, 
and painful cicatrices, are relieved ; skin diseases, scrofulous 
ulcerations, and enlargement of the glands, prostration from 
long standing sickness, or debility following severe courses of 
powerful medicines, show a remarkable improvement ; spinal 
diseases, neuralgia, nervous affections, partial paralysis, lead 
palsey, St. Vitus dance, muscular and general debility, respond 
to the treatment. Uterine diseases, as a class, are greatly ben- 
efited, and the baths are particularly regarded for the great 
climacteric change of life. For mercurial diseases, volumes 
of testimony- could be adduced in relation to the effects of 
these remarkable and unexcelled waters." 

It is believed, that in the cure of diseases, there are no 
springs in the world that can compare with the Hot Springs. 

The laro-e quantity of free carbonic acid which these 
springs contain, and which rises in volumes through the waters, 
produces, undoubtedly, an exhil crating effect on the system, 
enabling invalids to drink it freely, when otherwise the stom- 
ach would promptly reject it. 

At an early day, not only will these wonderful springs be 
sought for by invalids, on account of their curative properties, 
but the lovers of nature, and the traveller who seeks for the 
wonderful and the beautiful, will here find irresistable attrac- 
tions. 



24 ARKANSAS : 



Says Owen, in his Geological Reconnoisance of Arkansas, 
when speaking of the vicinity of the Hot Springs : 

"This ridge or mountain is made up of the most beautiful 
variety ot novaculite, equal in whiteness, clearness of texture, 
and subdued, waxy lustre, to the most compact forms and 
white varieties of Carrara marble. Except in being less trans- 
lucent, it approaches in lustre and fineness of structure, to 
chalcedony.'' 

The famous crystal mountains, in Montgomery county, 
are twenty miles from Hot Springs, of which he says : 

" There is at present, no region known on this continent, 
which presents such extensive mines of rock crystal, as the 
gorges of the mountainous ridges of Montgomery count3\ 
Almost every fissure of this vast sandstone formation, for a 
distance of one or two miles in length, and from three-quarters 
to a mile in breadth, is lined with these brilliants, which, ex- 
posed in bursting open the rock, glitter and flash in the 
sun's rays like a diadem." 

In connection with the Hot Springs, it is proper to men- 
tion a remarkable spring in Fulton county, known as the 

MAMMOTH SPRING. 

The description following is from Professor D. D. Owen's 
Geological Reconnoisance of Arkansas: 

" The country is w^ell watered, and possesses many fine 
water powers — even at the very fountain-head of some of its 
numerous limpid calcareous streams, w^iich frequently burst 
forth from among the ledges of rocks. One of the most 
remarkable of these, forms the fountain-head of the main 
fork of Spring river, known as the " Mammoth Spring, " 
welling up on the south side of a low, rocky ridge, from a 
submerged abyss beneath of sixty-four feet, and constituting, 
at its very source, a respectable lake of about one-sixteenth of 
a mile from north to south, and one-fifth to one-sixth of that 
distance from east to west. 

" It is said by those who have sounded the bottom, that 
there are large cavities and crevices in the rock, and that the 
main body of the water issues from a large cavernous opening 
of some forty yards in circumference. It has been estimated 
that it boils up at the rate of about eight thousand barrels 
per minute ; the correctness of this estimate we had no means 
of verifying, but it may be safely estimated that the average 
constant flow would be at least suflicient to propel from twelve 
to fifteen run of stones." 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 25 

Dr. Owen says its original source is supposed to be 
Howel's Valley, Oregon county, Missouri, since the waters 
of this valley, which is thirty miles long and eight miles 
wide, are not known to have any external outlet, losing them- 
selves in sink-holes and subterranean caverns and passages, 
to again burst forth on the northern confines of Arkansas,^ 
and constitute the principal branch of Spring River. If 
properly improved, it atibrds w^aterpower, with sufficient fall 
for valuable mill sites and water privileges, for general manu- 
facturing purposes. It now runs but one grist-mill, with two 
run of forty-inch stones. 

KAOLIN, OR PORCELAIN CLAY. 

The Fourche cove in Pulaski county, furnishes a fine 
specimen of kaoUn or porcelain clay, derived from the decom- 
position of feldspar. 

Noble quarries of granite could be opened on the north 
slope of the granite range in the Fourche cove. These quar- 
ries are only "between two and three miles from Little Rock, 
and close to the line of the Cairo and Fulton rail road. All 
that is wanted, in order to supply, not only the State of Arkan- 
sas, but the whole south and west, with the most substantial 
of building material, is cheap and easy communication between 
the quarries and Little Rock. 



MARBLE. 

Immense quarries of marble rock, exhibiting the pink 
and gray in great perfection, have been opened in various 
localities, and can be quarried in enormous perfect slabs. 
Madison county is rich in superior marble quarries. 

SLATE. 

Quarries have been opened in Pulaski, Polk, Pike, and 
Sevier counties, of a fine quality, equal if not superior to the 
best quality of Vermont slate, both as to durabihty, evenness 
of cleaverage, fineness of texture, '^and beauty of color. The 
application of slate to various purposes are, therefore, now so 
numerous, that good slate quarries are of great importance to 
a country, as well as to the owners of the property. 



26 ARKANSAS : 



iro:n', 

Valuable deposits of Iron, in immense beds, exist through- 
out the State in many places ; and as at Spadra, adjacent to 
the coal fields, it offers to the iron master great advantages 
for investment. 

THE '^BELLAH J.EAD AND SILVER MINES," 

Have already been spoken of in the description of Sevier 
County, to which the reader is referred. 

LEAD ORES. 

Where the ore has been mined, the lead is represented 
as lying in pockets, or crevices in the rocks, and not in regular 
veins. This is the condition in which the ore is also found at 
the Granby mines in Newton county, Missouri, the richest lead 
mines in the west, not only from the manner in which the ore 
occurs in the rocks of Missouri, but it has the same geological 
horizon, and the same associated minerals. From what is 
known of this part of the State, there is every reason to believe 
that valuable deposits of lead ore will be found in the counties 
of Washington, Benton, Madison, Newton, Carroll, Marion, 
Searcy, Izard, Independence, Lawrence, and Randolph. A 
vein of argentiferous galena occurs in Kellogg creek, in 
Pulaski county. 

Lead has been found in paying quantities in Newton, 
Marion, Sharp, and Independence counties, and two or three 
smelting furnaces are in successful operation. The ore is 
nearly all rich in silver. 

MAGNET COVE. 

We cannot close our brief sketch any better or more inter- 
estingly, that to quote a part of Dr. Owen's description of this 
remarkable place, located in Hot Springs County. He says ; 
" Here, in an area of less than two miles, we found, black 
Garnets, crystallized; green, yellow, and black Mica, crystal- 
hzed; Schorlamite, crystallized; Quartz, crystallized; Pyroxine, 
Lydian Stone, Hornblende, Agate, Arksutite ; Eloeolite, crys- 
tallized ; Actinolite, crystalhzed; Ironpyrites, crystallized and 
amorphous ; Epidote, Arvagorite, crystalhzed ; Talc, Titanic 
Acid, Magnetic Iron Ore, and, he says, doubtless many other 
minerals, not enumerated, exist. The most prevalent rock:s, 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 27 

are Novaculite, Milky Quartz, Hornblende rock, Quartzite, 
Chert, Hornblende porphyry, Sienite, Burrstone, Hornblende 
slate. Granite, Kieselschiefer, and Schorlamite rock. The 
magnetic iron ore occurs in large bodies, occupying a surface 
area, a little to the centre of the Cove, of four or live acres, 
over which the whole ground is strewed exclusively, with the 
finest specimens of this ore, much of which has polarity. 
The soil in this part of the Cove is of a dark chocolate-brown, 
from the large amount of Oxide of iron present. Among all 
these minerals, the pure crystaline forms of Titanic Acid are 
the most important, from their extensive use in Dentistry. 
Some of these crystals have been analyzed and proved to be 
as pure, if not purer than any on record. This must close 
our limited and imperfect outline of the vast mineral resour- 
ces of the State. A large volume might be written on this 
topic alone, and the half, then, not be told. It must, however, 
be evident to all, from this random sketch, that Arkansas is 
destined to assume an importance among the mineral produ- 
cing States of the Union second to none. 

If you ask why these resources have not hitherto been 
more fully developed, the answer is made truly, the want of 

RAILROADS, RAILROADS, RAILROADS. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Agriculture aud Horticulture. 



At present Arkansas must be considered as mainly an 
agricultural State. Whatever inducement she may ofier to 
the miner and the manufacturer now and in the future, must 
not make us forget her vast natural agricultural advantages, 
for these must ever be the source of a large share of her pros- 
perity. And though we think that a large portion of her 
prospective greatness and wealth depends upon the building 
of a system of railroads and the development of her immense 
mineral resources, her progress in this respect must necessarily 
be helped or hindered by the success of the tillers of the soil. 
The capitalists of the East and JSTorth, upon whom we depend 
for the building of our railroads and opening of our mineral 
mountains, would hesitate to invest their money in a State 
which was agriculturally at the foot of the ladder. At present 
not a tenth part of the arable land of the State is under sys- 
tematic cultivation, and in fact scarcely under really skillful 
management, if we may judge from our own observation in 
many counties. In 1850 only 2,598,214 acred were even nom- 
inally in farms, and of this number about 781,214 acres were 
to some degree improved. In the Appendix will be found 
some figures in regard to the number of acres in the State 
under cultivation for staple crops in 1870. There is plenty of 
just as good land in the 8tate as any now under tillage subject 
to homestead, and some of the donation lands of the State are 
of equal fertility to the best farms, which to-day would sell 
for from $13 to $40 per acre, according to location. 

SEASONS. 

[From S. N. Howe's " Homes iu Arkansas."] 

By '' Seasons," we mean just what the farmer means by 
the term ; that due mixture of rain and sun, which best pro- 
motes the vegetable growth. Climate and soil have usually 
been considered the chief necessities in production. .Un- 
doubtedly each may be regarded a sine qua non; but " season " 
is equally so. What we desire, is an open spring, early vegeta- 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 29 



tion, southern winds warming the soil ; then gentle rains — fre- 
quent rather than copious falls — with bright sunshine between ; 
the greatest fall of rain in the spring, then dry clear weather. 
The corn crop is the index of the season. When the farmer 
can produce this successfully, he can everything else that grows 
at the same time. 

We never fail here to have spring rains. These generally 
continue until some time in June ; after which there are thirty 
or forty days of comparatively rainless weather. Between 
July 26th and August 10th, there are usually hard rains, 
always regarded as very " seasonable, ^^ and then comparatively 
dry weather again ; and when particularly so, the cotton crop 
is superior The first frost is about October 20th, but only 
sufficient to check vegetation. Sometimes cotton blooms in 
the field till December. 

FARM PRODUCTS. 

The chief reliance and main staple of Arkansas has 
always been cotton. Fortunes have been, and are now being 
made by the growth of this valuable fibre. On soil well suited 
to its growth, it has ever been and is now the most profitable 
crop that can be raised in the State. The bottom lands are 
nearly all superior for the production of this staple. There is 
no country in the world, unless it be a limited area along the 
coast of Georgia, which is naturally better capable of growing 
this staple than the bottoms of Arkansas. A fair crop on these 
bottoms is from four to five hundred pounds of cotton ready 
for baling, worth say fifteen cents per pound, which would 
give us trom sixty to seventy-five dollars as the product of an 
acre of land. One good hand can tend ten acres in a favor- 
able season, making the proceeds of his labor through the 
cotton season from 600 to 750 dollars, which we submit is a 
thrifty return for the labor, making the necessary allowance 
for expenses. ^ It is, however, cotton culture on a larger scale 
that is generally the most remunerative and satisfactory. Some 
fiiTures will be found in the Appendix which will aid still fur- 
ther to give an accurate notion of the value of this staple to 
individuals and to the State. 

CORN. 

These bottoms are also particularly adapted to the growth 
of corn. From sixty to eighty bushels per acre is not an 
unusual crop; and it is the opinion of good farmers that, let 



80 ARKANSAS : 



the system of culture prevail here that has been adopted in 
Iowa and Wisconsin, and the crop can be safely calculated to 
average sixty bushels per acre. , The corn is not as flinty here 
as in the more northern States, and is considered better for 
feeding purposes. 

Cotton and corn may safely be set down as the great 
staples of the bottoms. In addition to these, however, all the 
crops grown on the uplands can be grown in the bottoms, viz : 
wheat, oats, rye, peas, beans, Irish and sweet potatoes, ground 
nuts, tobacco, hops, etc., with all the usual vegetables. 

WHEAT 

Does well in the bottoms, in seasons favorable to it, pro- 
ducing immensely — sometimes as high as sixty bushels per 
acre, but is not by any means as sure a crop as cotton, and has 
been abandoned in many localities. On the uplands, however, 
especially in the North and Northwestern parts of the State, 
it is usually a profitable and reliable crop, though even there 
in some localities, since the war it has been mostly abandoned. 
Winter wheat is the most successful as a rule, and it is worth 
from $1.00 to $1.50 per bushel. Good judges pronounce 
Arkansas flour even superior to that of Missouri or Michigan. 
In the Appendix will be found a table of the wheat product of 
the State. 

OATS, BARLEY, BUCKWHEAT AND RYE. 

While tine fields of oats may be seen in their season in 
almost any part of the State, and while rye can be, and is 
successfully grown, especially on the uplands in the N^orthern 
part of the State, barley and buckwheat appear thus far to 
have been almost entirel}^ neglected, and they figure as blank 
in the returns of 1870 showing the products of the State. The 
average yield in bushels per acre for oats is set down at 23.6, 
of rye, 18.2, which is a better showing than is made by any 
other Southern State except Texas, which shows 19.1 for rye, 
but is distanced by Arkansas in turn on the oat crop, and 
only shows 21.6, just two bushels to the acre less. It is no 
uncommon thing to raise fifty or sixty bushels of oats to the 
acre on the rich valley lands. The cash value of rye averages 
118.20; oats, |14.63. 

PEAS AND BEANS 

Everywhere do well. Finer crops of these much prized 
edibles cannot be produced in the world than are grown in 
Arkansas. The delicious Lima bean is native to the soil, if one 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 31 

may judge from its wonderful yield and excellence. Beans 
are worth from two to four dollars per bushel. Peas, uear a 
good market, bring about one to one and a half dollars in 
the pod. 

IRISH POTATOES. 

Northern people visiting the South in the winter often 
wonder at the scarcity of good Irish potatoes, and manj^ have 
come to attribute it to the inaptitude ot the soil itself for their 
production. That this is true to some extent, we are not dis- 
posed to deny, but we know by actual experience and obser- 
vation that it is not true of at least the larger part of Northern 
Arkansas. The only reason why as good Irish potatoes are 
not to be generally found on the tables of our farmers and 
hotel keepers as can be found in the North, is that the major 
part of the farmers are either too careless or too lazy to provide 
suitable means of keeping them during the winter season, for 
we have seen as line potatoes in the fields of North Arkansas 
as ever graced the Emerald Isle or touched the appreciating 
palate of any of its fairest daughters. Average yield per acre 
is about 117 bushels, but the usual yield, with proper cultiva- 
tion, would reach 200 bushels or over. We know not how 
others may feel, but as for us, we plead for more attention to 
this esculent and excellent vegetable. 

SWEET POTATOES. 

Sweet potatoes yield from one to three hundred bushels 
per acre, and are not surpassed in quahty by any grown on 
this continent. They sell readily at seventy-five cents to one 
dollar per bushel, and already form an important item in the 
farm products of the State. By the aid of the railroads soou 
to be completed they will become even more important. 

TURNIPS. 

Turnips have here a most prolific growth. They are to 
be seen in the fields as late as January, growing with an exu- 
berance unsurpassed. In connection witb sheep-raising in the 
hilly portions of the State, peas and turnips must prove verv 
valuable crops. 

GRASSES. 

Blue grass generally is found in the timber and on the 
bottoms of the State, and in Northwestern Arkansas is 
already deemed a valuable, and almost always a successful 



82 ARKANSAS 



crop ; yet it must be acknowledged that very little attention 
has thus far been given to the culture of any of the grasses so 
esteemed in the North and West, If, however, we have little 
to boast in this direction, we have a very satisfactory consola- 
tion in knowing that the main reason why so little attention 
has been given to their culture is because there has been very 
much less need of then in Arkansas than in the colder States 
of the North. Wild grass is so plenty and our winters so mild 
that farmers really need but little hay to maintain their stock 
in as good condition as the pitchfork-lugging farmers who cut 
a thousand tons a year on the prairies of Iowa and Illinois. 

TOBACCO 

Has never been a leading crop here, simply because cotton 
has always been king, in the estimation of most tillers of the 
soil. There is no doubt, however, but that the culture of this 
mankind-enslaving w^eed will be sufficiently attended to in 
the future, without the aid of a Raleigh to spread its lauda- 
tions. In Benton county a good deal ol; attention is now paid 
to its culture, and it proves a very profitable crop. The abun- 
dance of nitrogen and potash in our soil, should make it a 
staple crop. Tobacco and wheat in rotation, are, with the 
increase of population and good flouring mills, sure to become 
of much more importance than now. The Benton county 
tobacco is said to be of a very superior quality, equaling that 
of Cuba. 

HEMP 

Might be made a profitable crop, judging from the trials 
of its growth. It seems to do as well as in Kentucky or 
Missouri, and there would be a still further advantage, in this, 
that if justice were done there would immediately be an 
immense home demand. 



FRUIT. 

We cannot do better than to extract from Covnall & 
VV^lieelers' ''Real Estate Bulletin,'' published at Ft, iSmith, 
Sebastian County, for a description of some of our many vari- 
eties of fruit. These gentlemen have had much experience, 
and know whereof they speak. This is what they say: 

" Contrary to the expectations of the early settlers of this 
country, it is found to be an excellent climate and soil for 
fruit generally." 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 33 



APPLES. 

" The trees grow very rapidly on cultivation ; too much so. 
The fall rains grow more wood when the trees are well 
cultivated, than ripens and becomes firm enough to stand the 
winters. Of pears, this is especially so, and it is believed to 
be one cause of the blight in them. As a rule, the winter 
apples north of 36 deg., though the trees grow as well here as 
in the north, drop their fruit in August, from the long con- 
tinued heat of the sun. They will not answer on and south 
of the Arkansas river. 

But we have as great a variety, and equally as fine a quality 
of southern winter seedlings, as can be found in the northern 
States. We have also, many good summer and fall apples, 
indigenous to our latitude, though we believe the delicious 
summer and fall apples of the higher latitudes are, as a rule, 
equally so here, while the size is much larger. The'ofrowth 
of all fruit trees is much more rapid here than north. We, 
will name some of our best fall and winter apples : 

" The Shannon, for fall and early winter, ranks in size- 
and quality with any apple known in tlie United States." 

^* The Kentucky Red Streaks, Limber-Twig, Ben Davies, 
Nickajack, Shockley, Prior's Red, Romanite, Stevenson's. 
Winter, Yates, Maugum, Naverick's Sweet, Junaluskee, Chat- 
ahooche, (greening. Hall, Webb's Winter, and Hughes' Crab, 
are all good varieties for winter, nearly all of them southern 
seedlings, and are grown and raised here. Summer and fall 
varieties of fine size and fine quality, are too numerous to- 
mention. Apples are worth from 30 cents to |1 00 per bushel. 

PEACHES. 

The first in ripening here is Hale's Early Ripe, from the 
first to the fifteenth of June. Fine specimens, this year, 1870, 
are from six and a half to eight inches in circumference, and 
weigh three and a half to five ounces. 

Early Crawford comes in from the tenth to the fifteenth of 
July, and is, here, a most magnificent peach. There are too 
many fine varieties to enumerate them here. The peach, in 
this country, is a very rapid grower and early bearer ; as an 
instance, a Hale's Early, grafted in February, 1868, and set 
out in November, 1868, ripened one peach in June, 1869. 
This is one of the finest peach countries in the world. Plant 
tansey around the root to keep ofi' the borer. Peaches are 
worth from 50 cents to 5$1 00 per bushel. 
—3 



34 ARKANSAS I 



PEARS. 

Pears grow to fine size, and in quality will compare 
favorably with those grown anywhere, but the trees, from very 
rapid growth, or something else, are subject to blight. Much 
more attention is being paid to them, however, now than 
formerly, and many large and delicious varieties are cultivated. 
The Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Duchesse D'Angouleme, Win- 
ter Nelles and Seekle, are the most noted. 

CHERRIES. 

Of cherries, the common Morillo, EngHsh Morillo, May 
Duke, and (Iraffion or Yellow Spanish, are at present mostly 
cultivated, but many other kinds are now being tried. 

PLUMS. 

All kinds of plums do well here, and there are many 
wild kinds all over the country. The most cultivated are the 
Gages. We saw them this year, six inches in circumference. 
Damson, Coe's Golden Drop, the Wild Goose or Peach, etc. 

Apricots, nectarines, almonds, figs, and strawberries, do 
as well here as anywhere. 

The following is from Lewis, on 

GRAPE CULTURE. 

'' The general climate of this State, neither too cold in 
winter nor too hot in summer, is pecuHarly adapted to the 
growth ot the vine. Dr. Richard Thruston, with many years 
experience, asserts that there is no portion of the American 
continent, where the grapes can be grown so successfully as in 
western Arkansas. Leonard WithoflT, Esq., of Van Buren, 
himselt' a native of a vine growing region, near Wurtemburg, 
and for twenty -five years a resident of Arkansas, having been 
engaged in grape growing for twelve years, says the Catawba 
and White Hamburg have neither of them ever failed, and 
that in 1864, his Cata^yba yielded him one and one-half gallons 
to the vine. Dr. Dibbrell, a well known resident of this State, 
asserts that he has raised the Catawba, Diana, and Delaware, 
and has never known either of them to fail or be troubled 
with mildew." 

There is said to grow wild, south of Fort Smith, a large, 
white, native grape, of very delicious flavor. Indeed, in every 
portion of the State, wild grapes ot difi:erent varieties are 
abundant. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. • 35 



Says Mr. John K. Eakin, author of a work on grape 
culture: "This is the best region of wild grapes in America. 
What we mean to assert is, that the region between the Missis- 
sippi and the staked plains, and between the Missouri river 
and the swamp lands of the Gulf, produce more and larger 
and better wild grapes, than any other portion of the known 
world. This is deliberately said, after much reading, inquiry, 
travel, and extensive observation." 

And this by Oarnall and Wheeler on the same topic : 

" As to grapes, we do not think any country, unless it is 
Cahfornia, can beat it. Everybody has a viue or so, and 
several graperies are in cultivation here. 

'' Every climate and soil has its peculiar fruits and produc- 
tions; but situated as our country is, and with its varied soil, 
from the richest alluvial bottoms, to its clay sub-soil uplands, 
with surface from level to rolling, hilly, rocky, and even moun- 
tainous, with cUmate so mild in winter that cattle subsist them- 
selves, we can and do raise almost any fruit, vegetable, or farm 
product, that can be raised in the United States, except sugar." 
And sugar might be produced with profit, both from beets* 
which grow to perfection here, and from sorghum which grows 
luxuriantly in most parts of the State. Molasses from sorghum 
readily sells at 50 to 75 cents per gallon, when well made. 

It is sufficient to any, that all of these crops, fruits and veg- 
etables, are successfully cultivated here, with equal treatment, 
as in any other State, and mauy of them much more so ; and 
intelligence will point out to every farmer, the general and 
special branches of agricultural industry to which his land 
and his taste may be best adapted, assured that success and 
remuneration will follow all well directed efforts. iiefore 
leaving this subject, we desire to call attention to the fact that 
the Mulberry tree seems to be indigenous to our soil. It is 
usually hardy and rank, and with proper cultivation would 
answer every purpose of the silk-grower. The Chinese silk- 
worm, which has been imported from France, and naturalized 
in this country, would find in the profuse foliage of the Ail- 
antus tree rich materials for its glossy and much prized fabric. 

THE CASTOR BEAN 

Might be cultivated with profit. An acre will yield from 
twelve to twenty-five bushels ; worth from $2 00 to |6 00 per 
bushel. The oil factories of St. Louis alone, are able to 
express over 200,000 bushels of this bean yearly. 

*See Appendix. 



SQ ARKANSAS 



THE SUGAR BEET 

In California is already rivalling cane in the production of 
sugar, and there is no reason why it should not expand into 
an important branch of our agriculture. The enormous pro- 
ductions of this bulbous vegetable, is a consideration worthy 
of notice. If space permitted, we should be glad to pressi this 
subject further, and give some significant facts and figures. 
Let our farmers think about it and experiment for themselves. 

FLAX. 

More attention might be paid to this crop with profit. 
It has the decided advantage of a quick return for labor. - In 
three months from the time of sowing it may be carried in an 
equivalent of greenbacks in the producer's pocket. The 
yield per acre is from twelve to twenty-five bushels of flax- 
seed, or if flax and barley are sown together, ten to twelve 
bushels of flaxseed, and ten to sixteen bushels of barley. The 
straw will weigh about two tons to the acre. The certainty 
of this product is a strong recommendation. 

STOCK RAISING AND DAIRY PRODUCTS. 

Too little thought and attention has been bestowed upon 
the stock-raising interests of Arkansas. With a soil, surface, 
and chmate naturally adapted to this branch of industry, she 
has permitted nature to take her own course, and in this con- 
nection we need make no apology for introducing an extract 
from the address of Gen. A. "W. Bishop. We hope our farm- 
ers will not only realize, but illustrate its truth. Read : 

" Those splendid specimens of blooded cattle, rich in milk- 
giving capacity, that send an epicure into the third heaven of 
gustatory felicity, are better than the lean, lank creatures that 
give no adequate return for their existence. The various 
breeds of hogs, so rotund and satisfactory in their proportions, 
and which, in their contributions to the wants and commerce 
of the world, have freighted thousands of vessels, and even 
built great cities, are infinitely preferable to those angular^ 
sword-fish apologies that speed through the woods and scamper 
along the highways of our State." 

The business of stock-raising, of necessity, must ever 
be ol the greatest importance to Arkansas.^ All kinds of stock 
always find a sure and ready market at remunerative prices to 
the thrifty producer wherever adequate transportation can be 
had. The quality of Arkansas beef, if proper attention wa& 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 37 



given to securing good breeds of cattle, would be very supe- 
rior, and command the top of the market prices. Beef is 
usually worth in the State from live to seven cents in summer 
and from sevei to ten in winter, at retail. Horses can be 
bought at from ^50 to $175 ; mules, from |50 to $200 ; work- 
ing oxen at from $80 to $125 per yoke; three years old steers 
at from $12 to $40 eacli ; yearlings at from $5 to $10 ; milch 
cows at from $15 to $e30 ; depending of course in all the above 
estimates very much upon quality and the season of the year, 
condition of the animals, etc. Illinois, in 1871, had 1,224,000 
oxen and other cattle, worth $31,848,480, and 683,400 milch cows, 
worth $25,750,512. If she can make it thus profitable to raise 
stock, compelled as she is to feed in the northern part of the 
State nearly six months in the year, how much more profitable 
must such business become now that Arkansas has an outlet 
to the St. Louis and Chicago markets via the Cairo and Fulton 
Railroad. Much more might be said on this topic, but we 
must content ourselves with referring the reader to the Ap- 
pendix for a table relating to the " Stock of Arkansas, 1871." 

DAIRY PRODUCTS. 

Butter is always a concomitant, and we have frequently 
thought to a great extent a criterion of a country's civili- 
zation. Butter-making is an art of a higher order than most 
persons seem to imagine. We are unable to say whether 
Phillips includes it in his list or not, but in the major part of 
Arkansas it may fairly be termed a " lost art," if, indeed, it 
ever had an existence. The butter is mostly entirely in keep- 
ing with the sword-snouted porcinesthat have been described, 
a sort of an heterogeneous compound of badly kept cream, 
buttermilk and untidiness. Its market value is , its price 
from 15 to 30 cents per pound. Of course there are a good 
many good butter makers in the State, but we speak of the 
average article with which our markets are usually supplied. 
Milk with only the natural percentage of water can be pur- 
chased at from seven to ten cents per quart at Fayetteville, 
but we believe the Little Rockers who thirst for the lacteal 
fluid, have to pay from sixty to eighty cents per gallon, and 
some of it looks like water turned slightly pale at the prospect 
of going, where it is said no good water goes, into the stomach 
of a tenant of the " City of Roses." 

Thus it will be seen that dairymen have an inviting and 
almost totally unoccupied field in Arkansas. For the butter 
made here now, Ave must say, though it gives us pain, resem- 
bles butter " only as the mist resembles the rain." 



38 ARKANSAS: 



CHEESE FACTORIES. 

Cheese in this State finds a ready sale at from 25 to 35 
cents per pound, and yet in the entire State, as far as we are 
informed, there is not such a thing as a good cheese factory. 
Our cheese, like our wagons, plows and other utensils, comes 
from the more energetic and commercial North. New York, 
Ohio and lilinois make the cheese and drain the pockets of 
Arkansas. It is patent, however, that such a state of affairs 
cannot long exist. Arkansas has paid the fiddlers of the 
North and West until she is learning to dance herself, and 
ere long you will see cattle upon her thousand hills, cheese 
factories and dairy houses which will rival if not " beat the 
Dutch." 

SHEEP RAISING. 

Very little attention has been paid to sheep, as is evi- 
dent when we note that the whole number in the State in 
1871, was 135,000, while Iowa had 1,822,700, and in 1868, 
2,370,106. If Iowa farmers can live by sheep raising on 
their bleak priiiries and with their cold winters, Arkansas 
farmers ought to grow rich, and would grow rich at the 
business if there were either home manufactories or suffi- 
cient and suitable means for transportation. 

Sheep are remarkably healthy in this State, though the 
most of them are native " scrubs." They sell at from |1.50 
to $3.00 each. Let the Cotswold. the Lester, or the South- 
down be properly introduced here, or their crosses, and sheep 
husbandry would cut an important figure in the State. If 
Iowa can keep with profit 2,000,000 sheep, Arkansas ought 
to keep 8,000,000 upon her verdant hills and luxuriant 
valleys. This would add near $2,000,000 to her public and 
private wealth. " Rome was not built in a day." Even 
now we hear the lambs bleating upon the distant hills*. 
We have faith greater than a grain of mustard seed that 
sheep and }irosperity will come. 

HOGS. 

In 1871 Iowa had 3,100,000 hogs, while Arkansas had 
863,600. Those of Iowa were worth $22,165,000, while those 
of Arkansas were worth $2,832,608. In 1871 Iowa had a 
population of about 1,200,000, and Arkansas of, say 500,000. 
Thus it will be seen that the prairie State of Iowa, with a 
severe climate, no resources of mast worth speaking of, has, 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 39 

with a population a little more than twice as large as that of 
Arkansas, raised nearly four times as many hogs, worth more 
than seven times as much as the hog product of Arkansas, 
which enjoys a mild climate and unequalled advantages of 
mast. Farmers of the State, do you see through this ? Here 
are our spectacles. First, we see that Iowa has better breeds 
of hogs. Second, we see that hogs represent, in her case, so 
much corn, grown by her in that or the previous year. Third, 
we see that her railroad facilities furnish her a good market at 
Chicago ; hence the greater value of her hogs. Sword-snouts 
to the rear. 



CHAPTER V. 



Education, State Institutions and Railroads. 



No presentation of the material and ponderable interests 
of a State is complete, without at least a passing notice of the 
more intellectual and spiritual forces, without why,ch all else 
were but dull and unplastic clay. It is not the natural wealth 
of a country, which alone and inevitably determines its pros- 
perity ; indeed history is full of voices which tell us that wealth 
and luxury are sometimes only synonyms for downfall and 
decay. Genuine thrift demands the application of mental and 
moral forces, as well as the mere brute and material. No indi- 
vidual, state, or nation can truly and stably progress, where 
ruffianism, public or private dishonesty, or general ignorance 
prevail. The intellectual and spiritual forces which underlie 
material success, must be recognized as prime essentials to 
public welfare. An individual, a state, or a nation is only 
truly great, when it is moved by motives founded in an enlight- 
ened and constantly advancing civihzation. Before the war, 
Arkansas may be said to have had no schools, in the right use 
of the word. Twice she had some things that went by that 
name, and here and there scattered through the State a few 
respectably good private schools, which completed the cata- 
logue. Under the old regime^ indifference to public culture 
was a matter of course. With a social system reared upon a 
corner stone of caste, and teaching civil inequality, there must 
of necessity, be a prejudice against popular education. A 
social and political aristocracy, founded upon wrong, has an 
innate, instinctive dread of general intelligence. Between the 
two, we could expect nothing but bitter and deathless hostility. 
"Ignorance is ever the helpless victim of oppression, while 
popular enlightenment is the divine victor of wrong." Since 
the war, however, the spirit of liberty has made itself felt in 
the inauguration of a "Common School System," or a "Free 
.School System" as it is sometimes sneeringly called by those 
who interpret freedom to mean the liberty to traffic in human 
bodies, and deprave and abase human souls. This system, 
necessarily begun and sustained under many embarrassments, 



THE HOAIE FOR IMMIGRANTS. 41 



and encumbered, in many oases, with incompetent drones and 
mere place-seeking politicians as officers, is slowly but surely 
getting on its feet^and promising to accomplish something in 
the future, worthy of the State and the need. It has broken 
down powerful barriers of deeply-rooted prejudice, and begun 
to diffuse a modicum of knowledge, where hitherto, in many 
instances, has been total darkness and eclipse. It has lost 
force mainly from its cumbersome machinery and unwise, petty 
partisan legislation, designed to innure to the benefit of the few, 
at the expense of the many. Yet to some of the school offi- 
cers of the State, large credit must be given for honest, if not 
always well directed effort. The scheme of permitting teachers 
wages to be paid in State Scrip, in its depreciated state, has 
wrought untenable injury to the educational progress of the 
State. Notwithstanding all these embarrassments, encoura- 
ging progress has been made, and fresh impetus given to 
many a benighted soul. It is gratifying also to state, that 
nearly all the best citizens of the State, are now in accord with 
and laboring for the success of a good school system, which is 
sure to be wM^ought out in time. To say, however, as has been 
said, that " the public schools of Arkansas are ample to secure 
to all classes the fullest opportunities to acquire an education, 
and have a thoroughness and efficiency not surpassed by those 
of Massachusetts," is simply to betray the writer's ignorance 
of what he asserts. To even suppose a State, whose school 
S3^stem is not fairly under way, vies with a State that ranks 
first in the Union in her devotion to education, is to suppose a 
thing contrary to all reason and experience. The educational 
system of a State, is not built up after the manner of Jack's 
Bean pole, as the- above quotation would lead us to suppose. 
There are many good private schools in the State, w^hich are 
mostly alluded to in the description of Counties, to which the 
reader is referred. In the Appendix, will be found some 
interesting educational statistics, relating to the progress and 
present condition of the schools of the State. There will 
doubtless be some important and beneficial changes in the 
school system during the session of the present Legislature. 



STATE INSTITUTIONS. 

The StMe Penitentiary is located at Jjittle Rock, and has 
cost the State more probably than all the rest of its property 
put together. As long as those who ought to be in the insti- 
tution act as its keepers, little else but extravagance and 



42 ARKANSAS : 



profligacy could be expected. About those who bave latterly 
had control of it we know but little, but in times " befo' the 
wah" as well as since, it has been a constant suction on the 
State treasury. We believe it has usually been very well 
filled and the rations tolerably well served, yet it has not been 
as popular with the rogues of the State as a well ordered 
penitentiary should be. ^ix Governor Brooks, we believe, 
had a plau in view for popularizing the concern, but like many 
another well laid scheme, it lost its bottom with the election. 
If the present Legislature does nothing else it should remodel 
the law relating to the penitentiary so superintendents can't 
steal. 



ARKANSAS DEAF MUTE INSTITUTE. 

This Institution is located at Little Rock, as is also the 
Asylum for the Blind. We extract the following from the 
Second Biennial Report, for the years 1871-72 : " Great 
progress has been made in every department of the institution 
during the past two years. There were in attendance Decem- 
ber 15, 1870, 43 pupils— 25 males and 18 females. During the 
year 1871 there were admitted 12 males and 10 females, and 
in that year 10 left the Institute. On December 31, 1871, 
there were in attendance, males 32, females 23 ; total 55. 
During the year 1872 there have been admitted, males 9, 
females 10, and 1 readmitted. There are now in the Institute 
males 39, females 33 ; total 72. 

There was appropriated by the last Legislature the sum 
of $12,000 for salaries and contingent expenses for two years, 
and the further sum of $310 per annum for the expenses of 
each pupil. 

All the pupils are engaged in manual labor from two to 
three hours each day ; the boys in gardening, improving 
the grounds, preparing wood, etc. The girls are instructed 
over an hour each day in sewing, and, besides, engage in other 
household employments. 

The following is a tabular statement of the number of 
deaf mutes in the State, with their ages. Their names and 
residences have also been ascertained. It is not claimed to be 
entirely correct, as the sources of information, particularly the 
census lists, are very unreliable; but it is probable that the 
actual number would exceed those enumerated below, rather 
than fall short of it : 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 



43 



AGE.S. 



Under five years old 

Between five and ten years 

Between ten and fifteen years 

Between fifteen and twenty years.... 
Between twenty and thirty years.... 

Between thirty and forty years 

Between forty and fifty years 

Between fifty and sixty years 

Between sixty and seventy years 

Between seventy and eighty years.. 



Total 155 



Males . 



4 

22 

30 

23 

43 

13 

13 

5 

1 

1 



Females. 



2 

12 

29 

22 

34 

14 

8 

3 

2 

3 



129 



Total. 



34 
59 
45 

77 

27 

21 

8 

3 

4 



284 



Of schoolable age, between nine and thirty, there are, males, 100 ; 
females, 89. Total, 189, 

OFFICERS : 

Principal. — Elmore P. Caruthers, M. A. 

Instructors— B.2i\i^h. H. Atwood, M. Virginia Upson, Lois Ca- 
ruthers, Mary P. Atwood. 

Physician.— M.. K. Stark, M. D. 
Matron. — Cornelia E. Caruthers. 
Assistant il/a^ron.— Esther C. Treat. 



. STATE ASYLUM FOR THE BLIND. 

This Institution is also located at Little Rock, and is under 
good management. It needs more room and commodious 
buildings, which it is expected the present Legislature will 
provide. 

The insane, the blind and deaf are the wards of the State 
in nearly all civilized countries, and it is to be hoped that 
Arkansas will not be behind in providing for these unfor- 
tunates within her limits. In such matters generosit}^ blesses 
the State. We extract the following statistics from the Sixth 
Biennial Report of this institution, 1872 : In 1860 there were 
in the United States 12,635 blind persons. In 1870, 20,320. 
Increase 7,685, or 60 per cent. The number of blind in 
Arkansas in 1860 was 144; in 1870, 333. Increase, 189, or 
nearly 132 per cent. Since the opening of the Institute, in 
1859, 92 persons have received instruction as pupils. Kumber 
of pupils in attendance June 29, 1872, was 35, of whom 30 
were white and .5 colored. Of the wiiite, 8 were males and 22 
females. Of the. colored, 4 were male and 1 female. 

The branches of study pursued by the pupils are readings 
writing, arithmetic, geography, English grammar, history of 



44 « ARKANSAS : 



the United States, algebra, astronoraj^ physiology, vocal and 
instrumental music and calisthenics, with the constitutions of 
the State and United States. In the mechanical department 
are made mattresses, brooms, cane-seat chairs, bead-work, etc. 
The institution has a brass band, which is reported as doing 
well. Applications for admission must be made to Otis 
Patten, Little Kock, Arkansas. 

PRESENT FACULTY AND OFFICERS. 

Superintendent and Steward. — Otis Patten. 

Teachers in Literary Department. — Miss Madeline H. Patten, 
Miss Phebe F. Abraham, Mr. J. S. Eastman. 

Teacher of Music— Mr. P. M. Root. 

Teacher of Handicraft. — Mr. W. S. Skellinger. 

Household Officers. — S. D. Dodge, M. D,, Physician ; C. A. Stone, 
Ass't Steward ; Mrs. S. M. Patten, Matron. 



THE STATE INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY. 

We extract the following from the circular of 1872-3: 

ESTABLISHMENT AND AIMS OF THE UNIVERSITY. 

This institution is established in accordance with an Act of Con- 
gress, making a grant of land as an endowment for itg benefit, and in 
accordance with an Act of the General Assembly of this State, carry- 
ing out the object of said grant. According to the language of the 
grant, "the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific 
and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such 
branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic 
arts." 

LOCATION. 

The Arkansas Industrial University is pleasantly located within 
the corporate limits of the town of Faj^etteville, in Washington 
county. This location is tJiought to be unsurpassed by any other 
locality in the State in salubrity of climate, beauty of surrounding 
scenery, fertility of soil, variety and perfection of agricultural and 
horticultural productions, and the morality and intelligence of its 
people. 

All necessary buildings, including school, study and recitation 
rooms, are provided for the accommodation of all students who may 
apply for admission. 

It is thought by the opening of the academic year, 187S-4, large 
and commodious buildings will be constructed, with dormitories and 
■other improvements, looking to the comfort of the students. 

PROPERTY AND FUNDS. 

Besides the munificent grant of land made by Congress, amount- 
ing to one hundred and fifty thousand acres, the Legislature of the 
State has appropriated fifty thousand dollars for the benefit of the 
Institution. The donation of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 45 



proposed by the coimty of Washington and town of Fayetteville, 
upon condition of the location of the institution in the latter place, 
has been secured and made available by its location at Fayetteville. 
In addition to the above, several hundred acres of valuable lands have 
been donated by private individuals. 

EXPERIMENTAL FARM. 

An experimental farm, of excellent character, has been provided, 
immediately contiguous to the University, lor agricultural and horti- 
cultural purposes. The labor system will be voluntary, and students 
will not labor exceeding three' hours per day, Saturdays excepted. 
Compensation for labor will be from five to fifteen cents per hour, 
according to ability. 

TERMS AND VACATIONS. 

The academic year of the University, with its several depart- 
ments, is divided into three terms, which are denominated autumn, 
winter and spring ; and the year will begin with the opening of the 
autumn term. Ihe autumn term will continue fourteen weeks; the 
winter and spring terms will continue thirteen weeks each, and there 
will be one long vacation, commencing at the close of the spring term, 
and continuing to the opening of the autumn term, including the 
whole of August and the greater parts of July and September; and 
two short vacations of one week each, one at the close of the autumn 
term, and the other at the close of the winter term, 

MILITARY DEPARTMENT. 

Provisions have been made for instruction in military science 
and tactics ; and all able-bodied male students will be required to drill 
twice a week, and to wear the uniform of the University. 

TUITION. 

Students upon entering the University will be charged a matric- 
ulation fee of five dollars. And students, other than beneficiaries, 
whether residents or non-residents of the State, will be charged ten 
dollars tuition per term. 

AYe insert the following extract from the address of 
Gen^l A. W. Bishop, delivered at the commencement of the 
Arkansas Industrial University, at Fayetteville, June 27, 
1872, as a concise statement of the purpose to be served by 
the agricultural department : 

Beginning with the first principles in farming, pupils must move 
upward in agricultural knowledge, until they become familiar with 
the general features of farm economy ; the succession and cultivation 
of crops ; the management of grass lands ; the care and fattening of 
animals, and the principles of feeding them ; the methods of seeding 
and harvesting crops ; the connection of heat, light and electricity 
with the growth of plants ; the methods of improving soils by 
chemical means ; the chemistry of the various processes of the farm, 
planting, fallowing, draining ; the chemical composition of the various 
crops and the chemistry of the dairy ; in short, the numerous features 
in a general system of agricultural operations. ]Nothing less than this 
will answer an important end contemplated in the establishment of 
the Arkansas Industrial University, and that in lact is made obliga- 
tory by the act of Congress giving the endowment. The height of 
this consummation can only be reached by time. The first step has 
been taken; the ascent of the ladder begun, a foot-hold secured, and 
there is to be no slipping. 



46 



ARKANSAS : 



The present faculty consists of the following officers and 
instructors : 

N. P. Gates, Acting President, Professor of Mental and Moral 
Philosophy, Principal in Normal Department. 

C. H. Leverett, A. M., Professor of Ancient Languages and 
Literature. 

Mary R. Gorton, Preceptress in Normal Department, Instructress 
In Mathematics and English Literature. 

Henry L. Burnell, Late U. S. Army, Instructor in Military Science 
^nd Tactics, and Elocution. 

L. J. Stanard, Instructress of Training School. 
W. D. C. Botefuhr, Professor of Music. 



RAILROADS OF ARKANSAS. 

In 1850, Arkansas had no railroads; in 1860, she had 
thirty-eight miles; in 1867, thirty-eight miles; in 1868, eighty- 
«ix miles; in 1869, one hundred and twenty-eight miles, and in 
1870, two hundred and fifty-six miles. Thus it will be seen 
that what has been done in the way of building railroads, has 
been done since 1867. At this date, February, 1873, there are 
about three hundred miles of completed railway in the State, 
and the Cairo and Fulton Road in particular, is pushing on 
southward with great rapidity. ; The plan of our work "will 
not perruit anything more than a brief outUne of the more 
important roads, and a list of the others, which will be found 
in the appendix. The Cairo and Fulton Railroad Company 
was organized sometime in 1853, with license to construct a 
road, from a point on the Mississippi, opposite the mouth of the 
Ohio, to Fulton via Little Rock, with power to connect with 
any roads of Texas, running North of Galveston ; in fact, 
'having the widest latitude as to connection and consolidation. 
Its length is three hundred and one miles, passing through 
fifteen of the finest counties in the State. It will connect 
with the 8t. Louis and Iron iMountain, the Illinois Central, the 
Cairo and Vincennes, North; with the Memphis and Little 
Rock, Little Rock and Ft. Smith, and Pine Bluff and New 
Orleans, East and West. South with the Pacific and the Inter- 
national of Texas, to Laredo and the City of Mexico. The 
-capital stock of this road is $12,000,000. It has already 
reached Little Rock, and is running daily trains between that 
point and St. Louis. It expects to reach Arkadelphia by next 
May, and. has now graded about sixty-five or seventy miles 
South of Little Rock, and is constructing a fine bridge across 
the Arkansas at that point. Below we give a list of its oflSlcers. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 47 

Thomas Mien, President; H. Gr. Marquand, Vice-Presi- 
dent ; D. W. Mc Williams, Treasurer ; W. R. Donaldson, 
Secretary ": J. M. Loughborough, Land Commissioner ; James 
H. iVLorley, Chief Engineer. Directors : Thomas Allen, S. H. 
Laflin, Elon G. Smith, L. B. Clark, W. R. Donaldson, W. R. 
Allen, of St. Louis ; H. G. Marquand, William T. Boldget, 
William H. Smith, H. M. Alex-inder, John H. Swift, George 
Cabot Ward, of New York ; and J. M. Loughborough, of 
Little Rock. Trustees of the Bonds, The Union Trust Com- 
pany, 73 Broadway, New York. Principal Office, St. Louis. 
Agency of the Company, 120 Broadway, New York. 

THE HELENA AND IRON MOUNTAIN RAILROAD. 

This railroad will open up some of the best territory in the 
State. The facts below stated show something of its prospects. 

The road has a lauded subscription of 200,000 acres of the 
finest land in the State, and county aid of $700,000. The 
road is built by private subscription, and is specially incorpo- 
rated by the Legislature of the State ; and it is reasonable to 
suppose that it will be built as fast as possible. 

The Helena and Iron Mountain taps the Memphis and 
Little Rock at Forrest City, with the Memphis and Kansas 
City at some point in Cross county, with the Cairo and Fulton 
at the State line, where it will connect with the St. Louis and 
Iron Mountain road. It will thus be seen that this road has 
some very important connections with the North and VYest, 
and as Helena is claimed to be at the head of low water in the 
Mississippi, shippers of grain, produce, cattle and merchandise 
will have a straight and uninterrupted winter r^mte to south- 
ern ports. The projected line from Mobile to Helena, a 
contract to build which has already been made, will also give 
the road another connection with the south Atlantic coast. 

Our Helena friends are looking forward anxiously to this 
road being speedily built, and promise themselves, a heavy 
increase in trade on account of it. 

The officers are : David C. Cross, President; Q. K. Under- 
wood, Treasurer; J. C. Maccabe, Secretary. Directors: C. 
Polk, Arthur Thompson, Q. K. Underwood, Phillips county; 
P. Dunn, John Parham, St. Francis county ; J. C. Cross, P. 
Van Patton, Cross county ; W. H. Smith, Poinsett; W. Cates, 
J. M. Burke, Craighead county ; Dr. Wise and Otto Winters, 
Green county. General offices, Helena. 



48 ARKANSAS 



This road is under contract for completion, by July of this 
year, 1873. Its value to the section of the State through 
which it is to pass, cannot be over-estimated, 

MEMPHIS AND LITTLE ROCK RAILROAD. 

This road connects Little Rock with Memphis, Tenn. It 
is now completed and in operation and doing a large and 
lucrative business. Its length is about 130 miles. This road 
would be still more valuable if the Little Rock and Ft. Smith 
road was finished. It passes through a tine cotton country^ 
and if well managed must become a profitable road. 

THE LITTLE ROCK AND FORT SMITH 

Is expected to connect Little Kock with Fort Smith and the 
Northwest part of the State. This road has been badly 
managed, but, we understand, is now in better hands, and 
disentangled from some of its many embarrassments. The 
road at present is completed to a point about ten miles above 
Lewisburg, on the Arkansas River, and is graded a good share 
of the way to Fort Smith. It is expected that the road will 
be speedily completed. Its length is about 155 miles. Prin- 
cipal offices at Little Rock. 

MISSISSIPPI, OUACHITA AND RED RIVER RAILROAD. 

This road had its Eastern terminus at Eunice, on the 
Mississippi River, but we understand it is changed now to Chicot, 
a point about half way between the mouth of the Arkansas 
river and the Louisiana line. Its Western terminus is on Red 
River, at or near the village of Texicana. Its length is about 
160 miles and some forty miles are now completed. The last 
time the writer saw this road (April, 1871), it was from two 
to twelve feet under water, and in its stead was substituted 
two small scows or iiatboats, which twisted their sinuous way 
through the woods for some nine or ten miles to the " hills." 
The people along the line did not seem to have a very exalted 
opinion of the management of the road, in which we are 
inclined to coincide. "Property was going to waste; a new 
engine, the '^Powell Clayton," was standing exposed to the 
weather, covered with rust. Kegs ot spikes and other material 
were submerged, and everything in disorder and wreck. We 
do not know how it is at present, but understand it is much 
improved, and hkely to be completed sometime. It would 
undoubtedly be a costly road in the way of repairs, owing to 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 49 

the overflow of all the streams in that section of the State. 
It will be seen from the above that we have no profound faith 
in the speedy completion of this road. Since 1852, it has, Hke 
a wounded snake, been dragging its slow length along. It has 
already received $450,000 of State aid in the shape of rail- 
road bonds. 

James M. Lewis, Presid^-nt; Ed. Webster, Secretary and 
Treasurer. General offices at Chicot. 

THE ARKANSAS CENTRAL RAILROAD. 

This road is to connect Helena and Little Rock, with a 
branch road from Aberdeen, on the White river, to Pine Bluff 
on the Arkansas. Both the main line and the branch are 
under contract, and track laying is rapidly progressing. 
Under the energetic management of Col., now Senator Dorsey, 
we have high hopes of the speedy completion of this road. 
About thirty miles of track are now laid, and enough material 
at Helena to push the road rapidly to completion. The road 
passes through a very fertile cotton country, and must make 
one of the best paying roads in the State. The gauge ot this 
road is 3 feet 6 inches, thus conforming to that of the Southern 
Pacific, of which it will be a principal outlet. 

S. W. Dorsey, President; J. M. Peck, Secretary; J. J. 
Horner, Treasurer ; J. Q. Taylor, Land Commissioner ; J. E. 
Gretjg, Superintendent of Construction ; C. S. Miller, Chief 
Engineer. General Offices, Helena. 

The foregoing embracesj.the principal railroads of the 
State, which are now in process of construction or operation. 
Many others equally important are projected, and some will 
no doubt soon begin work. 

The great want of the State has long been, and now is, 
railroads. This want is realized by all of its intelligent citi- 
zens, and efforts are beginning to be exerted in nearly all parts 
of the State to supply this want. 

Without railroads, Arkansas never could become a truly 
great State. She has always been about a century behind the 
age for the want of sufficient means of transportation, and 
other important causes, which we need not enumerate. Suf- 
Jice it to say. she is but just beginning to cut an attractive 
figure in railroad circles, and to take her place in the rear rank 
of the sisterhood of progressive States. The immigrant, how- 
ever has an advantage in her very backwardness, provided 
she pushes on in her now fairly begun career of greatness. 



50 ARKANSAS 



Land is cheap now and homes easily obtained. New towns 
are springing, and to spring up all along the lines of the vari- 
ous railroads in progress and completed. The immigrant who 
begins in Arkansas now, will hence have many advantages 
over him who comes at a later date. Good selections of Gov- 
ernment and State donation lands can be made now — town 
property can be acquired in desirable locations, at nominal 
figures— but five years hence, these opportunities must be 
much diminished, for if Arkansas does her duty to herself, 
she will then be on the high road to prosperity, and her lands 
will be worth from fifty to three hundred per cent, more than 
they are to-day. Our people do not, as yet, properly realize 
the importance of railways as thoroughfares of travel, as car- 
riers and distributers of products, and as a means of devel- 
oping the country. It has been estimated, by excellent 
authority, that the amount of freight transported by the rail- 
ways of the Union, during the year 1871, reached the enor- 
mous sum of ^12,000,000,000, or some four or ^ve times the 
sum of the entire national debt. This great commercial move- 
ment, is a vast and ever increasing quantity, which receives 
accessions from every immigrant who lands on our shores, and 
every new farm opened up within our borders. Here in Arkan- 
sas, the great natural wealth which lies embosomed in her 
mountains and fertile valleys, must have an outlet before it 
can be utilized, by means of railroad or water transportation. 
We have lead, zinc, iron, coal, marble, cotton, and timber to 
distribute, but no adequate means of distribution. The mar- 
kets of the world are, and will be closed to us as producers 
and consumers, until we can secure a swift and certain carriage 
of our surplus products, and our necessary supplies for con- 
sumption. Let us put forth our energies then, persistingly 
and zealously, until we obtain this great consummation of 
abundant railway facilities. Then will our mountains unbo- 
som their wealth, our hills yield up their treasure, our forests 
turn to golden heritages, our valleys blossom into gardens of 
agricultural riches, and our State become infused with new 
activities. Then manufactories will utilize our cotton and 
wool at our doors, and the farmer, the merchant, and the man- 
ufacturer will alike bless the day that gave railroads to our 
beautiful and inherently wealthy State. Let the North and 
the South, the East and the West, be bound together by the 
iron bands of a reciprocal commerce, and the festerings of 
prejudice, and sectional proscription and stupid hate will 

" Fold their tents like the Arabs 
And as silently steal away." 



CHAPTER VI 

LANDS. 



UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LANDS. 

There are four government land offices in the State, and 
over 9,500,000 acres of land, situated as follows : 

No. 1. Little Rock District, at Little Rock, Pulaski 
county, 1,800,000 acres. 

No. 2. Fayetteville District, at Harrison, Boone county, 
2,000,000 acres. 

No. 3. Clarkesvilie District, at Dardenelle, inYell county, 
2,700,000 acres. 

No. 4. Washita District, at C'amden, Ouachita county, 
3,000,000 acres. 

Then, in addition to the government lands, the State has 
several hundred thousand acres of land forfeited to the State 
for taxes, which she gives to settlers free of coftt, only requir- 
ing improving and occupation to perfect the title to the same 
to the settler. These are called 



FORFEITED, OR DONATION LANDS. 

In 1840 the Legislature enacted what is termed the 
" Donation Law," by which the lands not sold by the Auditor 
at the annual sale of lands for non-payment of taxes, are do- 
nated to any person, in tracts of 160 acres or less, who shall 
reside on the land and cultivate five acres, or wh», in lieu 
thereof, shall fence and cultivate five acres within eighteen 
months after the date of donation. In 1850 the provisions of 
the law were so extended that a person might take up a 
quarter section for his wife and each of liis minor children; 
the wife and children were not required to make any improve- 
ments, the applicant being required to swear that the land so 
obtained was for his or her own use, or for the benefit of his 
child, and not for speculation. 



52 ARKANSAS : 



Below we insert Section 4 of the law : 

Section 4. Any person wishing to obtain such donation, should 
apply to the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State, who shall exe- 
cute under his hand and official seal, a deed, conveying all the right, 
title and interest of the State thereto, conditioned that the party 
receiving such donation shall reside upon and improve and cultivate 
at least three acres, or instead of residing on said tract shall within 
eighteen months, clear, fence and improve five acres. 

The United States Homestead Law is well enough known, 
so that we shall not repeat it here. All necessary information 
can be obtained from the officers of the several land offices. 



STATE LANDS. 

" The lauds belonging to the State are swamp and over- 
flowed lands, granted to the State by Congress in 1850 ; of 
these, there remain unsold about one million acres, divided 
into first and second class. The first class comprises those 
lying within six miles of a navigable stream, and are sold at 
seventy-five cents per acre. The second class are those lying 
more than that distance from navigable streams, and are sold 
at fifty cents per acre. This grant comprises some of the 
finest lands in the State." 

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT LANDS. ' 

Five hundred thousand acres were donated to the State 
by the general government in 1841, for the use of internal 
improvements in the State They were selected with great 
care, and comprise the best lands then unsold. A portion of 
these lands are yet subject to entry. They are scattered over 
the entire State, and are sold by the State at |1.25 per acre, 
on a credit of one, two, three, four and five years, with interest 
payable annually at six per cent. 

SEMINARY LANDS. 

There was also donated by Congress, to this State, for the 
purpose of establishing a seminary of learning in this State, 
seventy-two sections of land, which were carefully selected 
from the most valuable tracts. These lands are sold by the 
State at |2.00 per acre, upon the same terms as the internal 
improvement lands, except that the interest is ten per cent, 
per annum. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 53 



SALINE LANDS. 

Congress donated to the State a certain amount of land 
contiguous to the various salt springs. A part has been sold 
and the remainder is subject to entry at $1.25 per acre, one- 
fifth cash and the l)alance on time. 



SCHOOL LANDS. 



The sixteenth section of each township was set apart for 
common school purposes. Any information relating to the 
school lands of the State can be obtained of the State Super- 
intendent of Public Institutions; postoffice address, Little 
Rock, Arkansas. 

THE STATE EXEMPTION AND HOMESTEAD LAW, 

Is perhaps more liberal than any. In fact so liberal as some- 
times to protect the rogue as well as the poor but honest man 
of the State, for whom it was intended. We quote enough of 
it below, from Pomeroy's Edition of the State Constitution, 
1870, Article XIL p. 37. 

By a wisely designed provision, adopted by the State Con- 
stitutional Convention, 11th of February, 1868, and subse- 
quently ratified by the people, one hundred and sixty acres of 
land are exempted from execution. The benefits of this 
exemption, should the head of the family be removed by death, 
inure to his widow while she remains unmarried ; also, to his 
children during their minority. The constitution further pro- 
vides : " The personal property of any resident citizen of this 
State, to the value of two thousand dollars, to be selected by 
such resident, shall be exempted from sale or execution or 
other finiil process of any court, issued for the collection of 
any debt contracted after the adoption of this constitution, 

" Hereafter, the homestead of any resident of this State, 
who is a married man or head of a family, shall not be encum- 
bered in any manner, while owned by him, except for taxes, 
laborers' and mechanics' liens, and securities for the purchase 
money thereof. Every homestead not exceeding one hundred 
and sixty acres of land, and the dwelling and appurtenances 
thereon, to be selected by the owner thereof, and not in any 
town, city, or village ; or, in lieu thereof, at the option of the 
owner, any lot in a city, town, or village, with the dwelhng 
thereon, owned and occupied by any resident of this State, and 
not exceeding the value of $5,000, shall be exempted from 



54 ARKANSAS : 



sale or execution, or any other final process of any court." 
Further, it says : " The homestead of a family, after the death 
of the owner thereof, shall be exempt from the payment of 
his debts, in all cases during the minority of his children, and 
also so long as his widow shall remain unmarried, unless she 
shall be the owner of a homestead in her own right." Tt also 
provides that the property of a female, before marriage, shall 
be held by her in her own right as long as she shall so elect, 
to be disposed of by her as she shall deem proper. These just 
provisions of the constitution, it will be seen, provide against 
the possibility of any one's being distressed or deprived of a 
home. 



RAILROAD LANDS. 

The Cairo and Fulton company has 6,400 aeres to each mile 
of road, making a total of 1,926,400 acres on the three hundred 
and one miles of road. These lands embrace nearly every 
variety of soil and surface that can be found in the State. 
Many of them located in well timbered and well settled dis- 
tricts. These lands can now be bought at from $] 50 to $20 00 
per acre, as we are informed, and doubtless will soon be worth 
two or three times that sum. Every acre that is sold to an 
actual settler, doubles the value of the contiguous lands, and 
the company recognize this fact and are disposed to do all 
they can to promote their speedy settlement. Soon towns will 
spring up, where now is heard only the sigh of the wind 
through the trees. Forests will be leveled, to build habita- 
tions for man, and the wilderness will blossom. 



LITTLE HOCK AND FORT SMITH RAILROAD LANDS. 

From a pamphlet published by the company in 1871, we 
extract the following, in reference to its lands : 

The heart of this great State, is the valley of the Arkan- 
sas river, running entirely across the State, and dividing it 
into two nearly equal parts, each nearly equi-distant from the 
two water sheds, or mountain ranges, north and south of it; 
and while the eastern end has great fertility of soil, it is the 
westerly half that presents the highest attractions to persons 
seeking new homes. That portion of this great valley west of 
Little Rock, may be estimated at about seventy miles from 
north to south, and one hundred and fifty miles from east to 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. . 55 

west. Its area is about 10,500 square miles, or 6,720,000 acres ; 
or one fifth part of the whole State ; and includes all of ten 
counties, and portions of several others, and about one hun- 
dred thousand people. 

Of this territory, the Little Rock and Fort iSmith Railroad 
own more than one million acres. It is not a wilderness, 
where everything is new and to be tested ; but is a country 
already full of established institutions, with its country roads, 
school houses, churches, farms, masonic and other lodges, 
country stores, county towns, and good neighbors. 

These lands are in alternate sections on either side, and 
within twenty miles of the line of The Little Rock and Fort 
Smith Railroad. They consist of uplands, and river and creek 
bottoms. Uplands vary in price from 12.50 to |8.00 per acre; 
river bottoms from $9.00 to $25.00, and creek bottoms from 
$4.00 to $10.00 ; depending upon soil, timber, locality, and the 
other considerations which affect value. 

They are all now, for the first time, offered for sale, in 
government sub-divisions, in quantities to suit purchasers, upon 
the terms of cash, or one-quarter cash, and the balance in two, 
four, and six years, with interest annually, at ten per cent., 
(the usual interest of the State.) A perfect title will be made 
to all purchasers. 

/ THE LITTLE ROCK, PINE BLUFF AND NEW ORLEANS ROAD 

Also has a munificent a-rant of some of the best land in the 
State, which will be sold on w<^y^ reasonable terms. 

THE MEMPHIS AND LITTLE ROCK COMPANY 

Has now about 140,000 acres of land, which can be bought 
very cheap. • 

THE ARKANSAS CENTRAL, 

Has nearly 200,000 acres of land, good for general agricul- 
ture and stock raising, to be sold on easy terms. J. Q. 'I'aylor 
is Land Commissioner ; ofhce at Helena, Arkansas. 

THE MISSISSIPPI, OUACHITA AND RED RIVER RAILROAD 

Has a large land grant, in the southern part of the State. 
These lands can be purchased on good terms, and are in a well 
settled and good cotton country. ^T. P. Dockey, Land Com- 
missioner, Chicot, Arkansas. 



56 ARKANSAS : 



HELENA AND IRON MOUNTAIN RAILROAD. 

This company also has a large and valuable land grant, 
amounting to about 300,000 acres, worth from |2.00 to $10.00 
per acre, located in a good farming region, between Helena 
and Missouri. 

Nearly all the railroads of the State, have more or less 
land, acquired either by donations from the United States or 
the State's own citizens. There are, besides, plent}" of lands 
owned by private individuals, lying near the various roads of 
the State, for sale on moderate terms. 



PUBLIC ROADS. 

The condition of the public roads has improved very 
much since the war. The Legislature of the State, in 1871, 
made it the special duty of Grand Juries, to inquire into the 
condition of the several road districts, in their respective 
counties, and thus much has been done towards improvement, 
and yet the roads, from the sparseness of the population and 
the washing rains, are sometimes almost impassable. More 
attention should be paid to bridges, and to the material for 
road beds. On the whole, in respect to roads, Arkansas will 
perhaps compare favorably with the most of the Southern 
States, though she has nothing of which to vaunt herself. 



CHAPTER VIL 



BILIOUS DISORDERS. 

It is idle, and would be an act of injustice and deception 
to pretend that " billious diseases, incident to all new coun- 
tries, is here almost unknown,"' as has been said, in violation 
of English grammar and orthography, as well as the truth, 
by a pamphleteer of Little Rock. The fact is that all along 
the streams and on low lands throughout the State persons 
are subject to chills and other biHous derangements, sometimes 
of a serious character. With proper care, however, a person 
will generally enjoy as good health in most parts of this State, 
especially upon the highlands of the Northwest, as in most of 
the States of the Union. 

The climate to some is a health restorative, yet nearly 
every one who comes to the State is more or less troubled with 
bilious symptoms until acclimated, when he is on a par with 
the natives on that score. It is said that truth lies in a well, 
which may account for its scarcity in some individuals. Most 
residents of Little Rock sekLnn drink from wells; they take 
their liquids as we must construe their statements — consider- 
ably mixed. 

THE STATE CREDIT. 

Many and contradictory statements have been heralded 
abroad in relation to this subject. It is not surprising that 
her credit should have been impaired with that of the other 
Southern States by the war, when we remember that 80,000,000 
dollars were struck in one blow from the tax list of the State 
by the Emancipation Proclamation. There is no reason why 
Arkansas securities should not be considered desirable invest- 
ments, when the natural and increasing wealth of the State 
are considered. She is promptly meeting her obligations, and 
her State Warrants or Treasurer's C^ertiticates are at this date 
worth about 80 cents on the dollar. In the Appendix will be 
found a statement of the State Treasurer, showing the finan- 
cial condition of the State in July, 1872. Tbe present Legis- 
lature have it in their power to do much toward improving the 
financial condition of the State, and from present indications 
we believe the}^ will. Let them make short speeches, and the 
people will have longer pocket-books. 



58 ARKANSAS 



ARKANSAS SECURITIES 

Are deservedly attracting the attention of foreign capitalists, 
and though hitherto they have been chary about making 
investments, the prospect is that henceforth it will be easier 
to dispose of our State and county securities. We do not think 
the State has been well managed financially at any time since 
its organization, but the present prospect seems more encour- 
aging than heretofore. Until the !:^tate paper stands firmly in 
financial markets, Arkansas will not have done her duty to 
herself. 

GAME. 

The game of a country is an indication of the value and 
fertility of the land ; and the pioneers judge a country favor- 
ably or otherwise, by its abundance. This is a fine game 
country. Buffaloes were driven out long ago. Bears, wolves 
and panthers, have been reduced to small numbers, and are 
mostly confined to unsettled districts. Deer and turkey are 
plentiful, and the game of pot-hunters, quail, grouse, squirrels, 
ducks, snipes, plovers, woodcock, wild geese, etc., furnish con- 
stant shooting ; and there is scarcely a farmer who cannot 
make a good bag within a few miles of home. Fur animals 
abound. There has been no trapping for several years, and 
these animals have greatly increased, especially the beaver, 
otter, mink, and raccoon. There are foxes, wildcats and 
catamounts for the sportsman. A great variety ot fish may 
be found in our numerous rivers, lakes and bayous ; among 
the varieties are pickerel, black bass, buffalo, and catfish, the 
last named sometimes weighing as much as one hundred and 
fifty pounds. Thus it will be seen, that whether you are a 
descendant of Nimrod, or a follower of Isaac Walton, Arkan- 
sas can gratify your taste. 

A MONITIO]^. 

Do not come to Arkansas, expecting to find a paradise or 
a gold mine. If you are a lazy man, a drunkard or a fool, by 
all means stay at home. We already have an overpluss of 
your sort. We want men, a scarce article now-a-days. 

SUFFKAGE. 

Six months residence is required in this State, to entitle 
one to vote or sit upon a jury. Every voter is required to 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 59 

register his name, before he is considered a qualified elector. 
It is probable that the present Legislature may make some 
change in the registration law. It has already taken steps to 
enfranchise those who have been excluded from the right to 
vote, and there is little doubt but that at the next general 
election nearly every male citizen of the State, will be permit- 
ted to exercise the power that resides in a freeman's ballot. 

ECONOMY. 

This State has nothing to boast of in the way of economy 
in the past, but the prospect, we think, is decidedly better 
now than ever before since the war, and the State debt has 
frequently been grossly exaggerated. 



CHA.PTER VIII. 



NAVIGABLE STREAMS. 

Although, until very recently, this State could boast of no 
railroads, she has always had facilities of water transportation, 
superior to those of any other State in the Union. In fact, 
had it not been for her navigable rivers, she would have per- 
haps remained almost an unbroken wilderness, inhabited only 
by wild beasts and wandering hunters, to this day. This cer- 
tainly would have been the case, unless railroads had been 
pushed through her borders. The Commissioner of the Gen- 
eral Land Office (1868) says : "Arkansas has advantages of 
inland navigation not inferior to those of any other State, its 
many navigable waters being the best possible lines of transit 
for the produce of the interior to the great natural highway 
on its eastern boundary, whereby excellent markets can be 
easily reached. The Arkansas river, next the Missouri the 
largest tributary of the Mississippi, extends diagonally through 
the central portion of the State, from the northwest to the 
southeast, its whole length being about two thousand miles, 
and is navigable its entire course through the State, and for 
several hundred miles beyond. In addition to the numerous 
navigable streams of Arkansas, it is proposed to still further 
increase the availability of its resources, by a complete system 
of railroads, connecting the principal towns with the com- 
mercial centre of the country. Parts of these roads are 
already completed. The principal ones are the Cairo and 
Fulton, the Memphis and Little Rock, and the Little Rock 
and Fort Smith," and it may now be added, the Arkansas 
Central, the Little Rock, Pine Bluff and New Orleans, and the 
Helena and Iron Mountain, all of which have a promising 
future. 

From a glance at the map it will at once be apparent that 
railroads have not been such necessities here as in other States, 
great portions of which were almost worthless without some 
artificial means of cheapening transportation. With the 
Mississippi river on the east, and the St. Francis, the White, 
the Black, the Arkansas, the Ouachita, the Saline, the Red, 
the Bayou Bartholomew, and others, (never obstructed by ice) 
forty-three of the counties of the State are watered by streams, 
each navigable for steamboats, from seventy-five to four hun- 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 61 

dred miles ; making a great highway within the State ol more 
than thirty-live hundred miles, and several hundred more 
miles which may be made available with but little labor. We 
think it may safely be asserted that no other State has a water 
communication at all comparable with this, and when the lines 
of railroad now under construction shall be completed, its 
facilities of transportation will be adequate to the wants of a 
very largely increased population, and equal if not superior to 
those of any other State. In the Appendix will be found a 
full list of the navigable streams of the State, and the distance 
that each is navigable. 



JUDICIARY SYSTEM. 

The Supreme Court of Arkansas consists of five judges, 
one of whom is styled the Chief Justice. Three members 
constitute a quorum. It has appellate jurisdiction over the 
final orders, judgments and determinations of all other and 
inferior courts in the State, in appeals from judgments of 
inferior courts, with power to review intermediate orders 
involving the merits and necessarily affecting the judgment, 
and in most cases affecting substantial rights or calling in 
question the constitutionality of any State law. It has power 
to reverse, affirm or modify the judgment or order appealed 
from in whole or in part, as to any or all the parties, and its 
judgment, on remittal to the court below, is to be legally 
enforced. It also has power to provide by general rules, what 
causes shall have a preference on the docket. 

CIRCUIT COURTS 

Have appellate jurisdiction in all orders and judgments of 
County and Probate Courts, except in cases exclusively 
restricted to the jurisdiction of such courts, or expressly pro- 
hibited to them, and of inquisitions before justices of the 
peace or other officers, for appropriating private property to 
pubhc use, except when otherwise provided, and of all other 
judgments or final orders of justices of the peace. There are 
ten Judicial Districts or Circuits in the State, and as many 
Circuit Judges, who have a salary of |3,500 in State scrip per 
year. A hst of the Circuit Judges will be found in the 
Appendix.- 



62 . ARKANSAS 



COUNTY, PROBATE AND JUSTICE COURTS 

Have the juriRidiction and powers usual to such courts in most 
States, the (bounty Court being the financial head of the 
County ; the Probate Court having jurisdiction over the 
settlement of estates, matters of wills, guardianship, etc., and 
Justice Courts limited civil and criminal jurisdiction. 

Besides the foregoing are PoUce and Mayor's Courts, the 
former having special powers, similar to those of Police Courts 
elsewhere, and the latter being on a footing with justice within 
the limits of their special jurisdiction. 

The criminal jurisdiction of the various courts of the 
State will appear from the following extract from the amend- 
ments to the present code. 

CRIMINAL JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE, 

Section 10. (Amended 1871.) Jaris'iiction of the vaiious 
courts defined. The jurisdiction of the various courts of this 
State, for the trial of offenses, shall be as follows : 

First. The Senate of Arkansas have exclusive jurisdiction 
of impeachment. 

Second. The Supreme Court shall have general super- 
vision and control over all inferior courts, in criminal cases. 

Third. The Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction for 
the trial of all offenses which may be prosecuted by indict- 
ment, and all prosecutions and penal actions, except as 
follows. 

Fourth, (yity and Police Courts shall have exclusive 
jurisdiction of all prosecutions and actions for an infraction of 
the by-laws or ordinances of the city or town in which they 
are located, and concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit 
Courts, and Justices' Courts ot prosecutions for misdemeanors 
committed in the town or city, where the punishment is a fine 
not exceeding one hundred dollars, or imprisonment not 
exceeding thirty days, or both ; and also concurrent jurisdic- 
tion in the cases provided by the special statutes, creating or 
regulating such courts. 

Fifth. In criminal causes, the jurisdiction of courts of 
justices of the peace shall extend to all matters less than 
felony, such as petit larceny, assaults, affrays and vagrancy, for 
final determination and judgment: Provided^ That Circuit 
Courts shall have jurisdiction concurrent with justices' courts 
in all such cases, and in all criminal and penal causes, except 
where exclusive jurisdiction is given to city and police courts. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. , 63 



TAXATION. 

No one coming to Arkansas will have reason to complain 
that the taxes are not high enough, nor will he have reason to 
grumble that they are higher than those of many other States. 
We give below the taxes of Washington county for the year 
1871, which are about the same this year. From these one 
will be enabled to judge as to the other counties of the State. 

State Tax 70 cents on the $100 

County Tax 65 " " 

Sinking Fund Tax 25 

Levies for Special School Tax cannot ex- 
ceed in the country 50 " " 

In cities and towns 75 " " 

Thus it will be seen that taking the extreme limit, the 
total taxation, unless of some special voluntary character, 
cannot exceed $2.35 to each $100, which, considering the 
ravages of the war, is certainly not an exorbitant sum. Of 
course in cities there may be municipal taxes increasing the 
above amount considerably. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Description of Counties. 



For the sake of convenience of reference, we have 
arranged the counties in their alphabetical order, and have 
endeavored to give such an account of each county as its 
relative importance and present advancement would warrant. 
Many of the counties of which we have said little, only need 
railroads and population to make them equally attractive with 
their more favored neighbors. There is not a county in the 
State which has arrived at even an approximation to its possi- 
ble development. 



ARKAJNSAS COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Prairie and Monroe counties, on 
the east by the White River, on the south by Desha county 
and the Arkansas River, on the west by Jeiferson and Prairie 
counties. The most of this county consists of prairie, with 
occasional knolls and ridges, and bottom land along the 
Arkansas and White rivers and smaller streams, and their 
tributaries. From 30 to 60 bushels of corn, and from 1,000 
to 2,000 pounds ot seed cotton per acre is about the rate of 
production. By the application of first-class husbandry it 
would exceed the amounts stated. There are many varieties 
of timber common to the State in the county. We have 
before stated that the State was first settled at Arkansas Post, 
in this county. De Witt, a small town of perhaps four or five 
hundred inhabitants, is the county seat. The population of 
this county, which is largely colored, was, according to the 
census of 1870, 8,268. In 1850 it was 3,245. Some of the 
very finest land of the State lies in this county, and it is des- 
tined to sustain a large and prosperous population. The 
Arkansas Central Railroad passes through the northern border 
of the county, and the population and importance of the 
county are increasing. Land is yet cheap. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 65 



ASHLEY COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north b}^ Drew, east by Chicot, south by 
Louisiana, west by the Saline and Washita rivers, which sep- 
arate it from Union and Bradley Counties. The land is usu- 
ally low and level ; the soil has suffered from shiftless farming, 
but is capable of producing fair crops of cotton, corn and fruit. 
Timber is plenty and excellent. Some of the best pine timber 
is found in this county. Hamburg is the county seat, a town 
of little importance, except as a trading point. There is, how- 
ever, an academy of some pretensions located here, which 
seems to be well supported. Lead, coal and copper mines 
have been worked to some extent in this county. Bilious dis- 
eases prevail here in the summer and fall. Population, in 
1870, 8,042. Cotton market, New Orleans. Land from ^3 to 
|12 per acre. 

BOONE COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by the State of Missouri, east by 
Marion, south by Newton and Searcy, and west by Carroll 
Counties. Surface is broken, interspersed with prairies. Soil 
usually fertile, producing corn, wheat and other grains, hay, 
and, in favorable seasons, fair crops of cotton. Tobacco does 
finely here, but is Httle cultivated. Fruit is abundant, and 
stock raising a profitable avocation. Some of the finest farms 
in the State may be found in this county. The Memphis and 
Kansas City R. K. is expected to run through this county, and 
is already surveyed. Lead mines of the purest and richest 
variety are found here. At Lead Hill, a smelting furnace has 
long been in operation. Timber is abundant — lumber worth 
^15 per 1,000 at the mills. Good brick-clay and many kinds 
of building-stone are found here in profusion. The U. S. Land 
Ofiice is located at Harrison, the county seat of this county, a 
town of about 300 inhabitants. A new court house and a 
steam mill adorn the town, and a large spring of good water 
adds to its attractiveness. Bellefont, a village of some 400 
souls, is also in this county, about four miles from Harrison. 
Several smaller villages are scattered over the county — popu- 
lation in 1870, 7,032. This is one of the new counties of the 
State. Land is worth from $3 to |12 per acre. 

BENTON COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by the State of Missouri, east by- 
Carroll and Madison counties^ south by Washington, and west 
—5 



66 ARKANSAS: 



by Indian Territory ; thus it will be seen that it lies the north- 
west corner of -the State. The land is high and rolling, trav- 
ersed by ridges. Benton county is watered by the following 
streams of never-failing water : Big Osage and Little Osage 
rivers, Illinois River, White River, Honey Creek, Big Spav- 
inaw, Little Spavinaw, Butler's Creek, Big Sugar, Little 
Sugar, Indian Creek, Clifty, Prairie Creek, War Eagle, Brush 
Creek, Hickory Creek, Spring Creek and Leatherwood. The 
above named streams extend in ^ery part of the county, sup- 
plying water for all and every purpose. Soil generally ex- 
cellent for corn, wheat, oats, hay, &c., &c. Tobacco is raised 
here of the finest and most marketable quality, at the rate of 
800 to 1,200 pounds per acre. It is celebrated for its fruit and 
for fine cattle and sheep. Timber abundant and in good vari- 
ety. The Fort Smith & Kansas City R. R. is expected to pass 
through this county, and another road, from Springfield, Mo., 
to Sabine Pass, is contemplated. Bentonville, a beautifully 
located town of 1,000 inhabitants, is the county seat. An ele- 
gant new Court House is in process of completion here, at a 
cost of some |30,000. It is one of the finest in the State. In 
addition to its delightful situation, Bentonville has advantages 
in the way of good society and schools, seldom met with in 
the State. Prof. Morgan II. Looney, a popular educator and 
an aftable gentleman, presides over a flourishing High School 
recently established at this place, provided by the citizens, 
with a substantial brick building, costing some $10,000. Ben- 
ton County is, all things considered, one of the very best in the 
State. The population, in 1870, was 13,831, but it is safe to 
place it at about 15,000 at this date, and rapidly increasing. 
Moreover, it is almost wholly a white population, and em- 
braces many of the noblest sons and fairest daughters of the 
State. We should be glad to give some of the many interest- 
ing details of its war history did not space forbid. Land can 
be bought at from $5 to $30 per acre, according to location ; 
good farms will sell for about $10 to $20 per acre. 

BRADLEY COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Lincoln and Dallas counties, east 
by Drew and Ashley, south by Union and west by Calhoun. 
Surface generally level, with occasional knolls and ridges. 
Soil in the river and creek bottoms is good and productive. 
Cotton is the staple product. Corn yields about 40 to 50 
bushels per acre on the bottoms and from 10 to 15 on the 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 67 

uplands. Sweet potatoes, yams and " goober nuts" grow well. 
Peaches, plums and small fruits are plenty and productive. 
Coal, gypsum and nearl exist in this county, and will soon be 
valuable. The Mississippi, Ouachita and Red River Railroad 
will run through this county. Warren is the county seat, a 
small town of about 500 inhabitants, with too many "dog- 
geries" to be a desh-able place to live, though there are 
many fine people there. It has a very good brick court 
house and jail. This is the abode of John M. Bradley,, 
who is celebrated for bellowing like the Bull of Bash an 
upon the stump when politics and other of Old Nick's 
wrangles wax hot. Population, 8,646 in 1870, largely colored. 
Farmers generally shiftless, and the county's productive capa- 
bihties comparatively untouched. There are, however, grati- 
fying exceptions. Nor should the writer in closing this brief 
sketch, fail to acknowledge his obligations to the hospitable 
kindness of Judge W. W. Hughey, late clerk of the county, 
both for information and for substantial benefits. 

CALHOUN COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Dallas, east by Bradley, south by 
Union, west Ouachita county. Surface generally level. Soil 
similar to that of Bradley ; onl}^ a small portion of the land 
under cultivation. It is believed that there are coal beds in 
some parts of this county which are destined to become valu- 
able. It is well watered by the Ouachita River and its tribu- 
taries. Cotton and corn are the chief products. Fruit does 
well, and in the summer season in the Ouachita bottoms 
mosquitoes and other like agreeable companions are extremely 
thrifty. Bilious disorders are prevalent. Colored population 
well represented. Schools scattered but improving. County 
seat is Hampton, a small town situated near the line of the 
Arkansas and Louisiana Railroad. Population, 3,853 in 1870, 
was 4,103 in 1860. 

CARROLL COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by the State of Missouri, east by 
Boone, south by Newton and Madison, west by Madison and 
Benton counties. Surface broken and hilly, with some prairie 
in spots. Soil good, producing corn, wheat, hay, etc., well. 
Stock, sheep and fruit thrive. Well watered, timber abundant, 
land cheap, some homesteads yet to be had in this county It 



ARKANSAS : 



affords good water power, and has valuable mines" of lead, and 
pilver and iron are found here, to what extent is not known. 
Marble and other valuable quarries abound. The M. & K. C. 
R. R. will pass near this county. Population, 5,780. The 
county-seat is CarroUton, a village of 150 people, with no 
public buildings, A good steam mill is located here. Popu- 
lation mostly white. Berryville is the only other village in 
the county, and is likely to become the county seat at no 
distant date. 

CHICOT COUNTY 

Is Vjounded on the north by Desha, east by Mississippi river, 
south by Louisiana, west by Ashley and Drew counties, being 
the southeast corner county. Surface level and low, much of 
it subject to annual overflow. Soil known as "buckshot" 
land. River bottoms very rich ; splendid cotton land, pro- 
ducing often one thousand pounds to the acre, of "ginned" 
cotton. Lake Village is the county seat, a characteristic 
Southern town, where " draw poker" is a favorite amusement, 
and " whisky straight " the chiefly patronized beverage. From 
this it must not be inferred that there are no churches there, 
or that the Judge of that Circuit grants indulgences for such 
"sinful games." They have so much water thereabouts that 
many have become constitutionally opposed to its use. Pop- 
ulation, 7,214 in 1870 ; in 1860 it was 9,234. The L. R. P. B. 
& N. O. R. R., as well as the Mississippi, Ouachita and Red 
River, run through this county. It is one of the very best 
cotton counties in the State.* 

CLARK COUNTY, 

In the southern central part of the State, is bounded on the 
north by Montgomery and Hot Spring, east by Hot Spring 
and Dallas, south by Ouachita and Nevada, and west by Ne- 
vada and Pike Counties. Surface is irregular and broken, 
soil generally excellent and fertile, producing from 20 to 60 
bushels of corn, and from 12 to 18 bushels of wheat, and from 
a bale to a bale and a half of cotton, on the best land, per 
acre. This county is well supplied with water, and a fine 
variety of timber. It has good schools and two newspapers. 
In this county are also vast quantities of limestone, which 
must add greatly to the wealth and commerce of the county 

*See Appendix for list of railroads in the State. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 69 

as soon as the Cairo & Fulton R. K. reaches its borders, which 
will not be long. It also has other substantial, but undevel- 
oped mineral resources. Arkadelphia, a brisk town of some 
1,000 inhabitants, situated on the Ouachita River, is the county- 
seat. Population of county in 1870 was 11,953, in 1860 it was 
9,735. This promises to be one of the best counties in the 
State. Its healthfulne>s equals that of any of the adjoining 
counties. Land is appreciating in value — still, cheap. 

COLUMBIA COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north' by Nevada and Ouachita, east by 
Ouachita and Union Counties, south by Louisiana, west by 
Lafayette County. Surface mostly level, with occasional 
knolls and ridges. Soil good, and well adapted to cotton, 
sweet potatoes and fruit of this latitude. Timber is abundant, 
such as pine, oak, beech, etc. The Shreveport, Little Rock & 
Memphis R. R. will pass through this county. Magnolia, a 
thriving town, is the county seat. It has one paper, the 
" Magnolia Flower." Population of county, in 1870, was 
11,397; in 1860, was 12,449, largely colored, like all the other 
cotton counties. 

CONWAY COUNTY 

Lies near the central part of the State, and is bounded on 
the north by Van Buren County, east by White, south by 
Pulaski and Perry, west by Perry and Pope Counties. The 
Arkansas river marks its southern limit. Surface is much 
broken. Soil of the bottoms very rich. Staples, cotton, corn, 
wheat, oats, fruit, and stock, of which cotton and corn take 
the lead. It is well watered and timbered, and has unde- 
veloped resources of coal and other valuable minerals. The 
Little Rock & Fort Smith R. R. now runs daily trains through 
this county, and it is rapidly settling up. Springfield, a thritty 
little town, is the county seat, and Lewisburg, on the Arkansas 
river, is a larger and more important town, having both steam- 
boat and railroad facilities. Population in 1870 was 8,112, in 
1860 was 6,697. It cannot be far from 10,000 at this date. 
This is a good county for the home seeker. 

CRAWFORD COUNTY 

Lies north of the Arkansas River, adjoining the Indian Terri- 
tory. It is bounded on the north by Washington and Madison 



70 ARKANSAS : 



counties, east by Franklin, south by Sebastian, and west by 
Indian Territory. Surface is variable — rough in the northern 
portion and more level as you approach the river. Soil is 
well suited to cotton, corn and wheat. Oats and hay grow 
very well, and fruit is abundant. It is well watered and tim- 
bered, and has a most promising future. The Little Rock & 
Fort Smith and the Kansas City and Fort Smith railroads are 
to pass through this county at no distant day. Coal beds un- 
derly almost this entire county. Iron and lead are also found 
within its limits. Van Buren, the county seat, is an import- 
ant commercial town of some 1,200 inhabitants, distinguished 
for its solid business men, its poor hotels, and a good newspa- 
per, the " Van Baren Press," to which the town is indebted 
more than it knows for its prosperity. Population in 1870, 
8,957, in 1860, 7,850. It is generally healthful, and a good 
county to tie to. 

CRITTENDEN COUNTY 

Lies opposite Memphis, on the Mississippi river. Is bounded 
on the north by Mississippi county, east by the Mississippi 
river, south by Phillips, west by St. Francis and Cross coun- 
ties. The land is very flat and low, except what is known as 
" Crowley's Ridge.'' Soil rich, producing cotton and corn 
chiefly, and along the river bottom is subject to overflow. 
Much of the land is too swampy to be worked without thor- 
ough and costly drainage. Two railroads pass through this 
county. Timber is abundant. The bottoms are covered with 
cane, and produce a superior breed of mosquitos, whose bills 
are even longer, if possible, than those of the doctors of that 
latitude. This is a good county for ducks, but a bilious one 
for white people who are not " to the manner born." Marion 
is the county seat. Population of county in 1870, 3,831; in 
1860, 4,920. 

CRAIGHEAD COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Green and Lawrence, east by 
Mississippi county, south by Poinsett, west by Jackson. 
" Crowley's Ridge" passes entirely through this county, from 
north to south. The surface is generally level, and well 
watered with numerous cool and crystal springs. Soil excell- 
ent for cotton, corn and grasses. It is a fine stock county. 
Timber abounds. The Helena & Iron Mountain R. R. passes 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 71 

throngh this county. Jonesboro, a small village, is the county 
seat. In 1870, the county had a population of 4,577, in 1860, 
of 3,066. This is a moderately healthful county. On Crow- 
ley's Eidge it is thickly settled by good farmers, who make 
money honestly and well. 

CR0S8 cou:nty. 

Cross county is bounded on the north by Poinsett, east by 
Crittenden, south by St. Francis, west by Woodruff and Jack- 
son counties. Surface is generally level, except in the centre, 
where "Crowley's Ridge" passes through. Soil is excellent. 
Products are cotton, corn, grain of various kinds, and an 
abundance of fruit. There are some line nurseries, and well 
paying orchards in this county. Water is abundant in most 
parts of the county. For timber, we find several kinds of oak, 
hickory, ash, sycamore, hackberry, poplar, etc. Tw^o railroads 
are to pass through this county. Its county seat is Wittsburg. 
It has one paper, the Wittsburg Gazette. The county has an 
area of about 600 square miles, and a population of 3,915 in 
1870. Was not a county when the census of 1860 was taken. 

DESHA COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Phillips and Arkansas, east by 
the Mississippi River, south by Chicot, west by Drew and 
Lincoln counties. Land low and flat, with prairie and bot- 
toms. Soil rich ; good for cotton, yielding sometimes two 
bales per acre. Well timbered and watered. Has one railroad, 
the Little Rock, Piue Bluff and New Orleans. Napoleon is 
the county seat, situated on the Mississippi River. During the 
overflow of the Mississippi, it is sometimes quite moist in the 
vicinity of Napoleon, and the amphibious inhabitants bid each 
ban jour from the roofs of their maisons, and go about in skiffs 
peeling the bark from trees to get combustible material enough 
to concoct a ration of coftee. It's a pleasant place to live if 
you are fond of a wet landscape, though not as healthful as 
you might desire, unless you are an undertaker. Population 
in 1870, 6,125 ; in 1860, 6,459. 

DALLAS COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Hot Spring and Grant, east by 
Jefferson, Lincoln and Bradley, south by Calhoun, and west 
by Clark, Surface is irregular and broken. Soil produces 



72 ARKANSAS 



cotton, corn and wheat. It is rich in minerals, and has valu- 
able salt wells. It is well watered and timbered. The 
Shreveport and Memphis Eailroad is to pass through this 
county. Princeton, a small town, is the county seat. Popu- 
lation in 1870, 5,707 ; in 1860, 8,283. Is not a very desirable 
county for the immigrant at present. 

DREW COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Lincoln, east by Desha and Chicot, 
south by Ashley, west by Bradley. Surface is rolling and 
hilly, with some prairie, except in the western part, which is 
generally level. Soil clayey and a gravelly loom, yielding 
fair crops of cotton, and from 15 to 40 bushels of corn to the 
acre. The Mississippi, Ouachita and Red River Railroad runs 
through this county. Monticello is the county seat, an old 
and somewhat dilapidated town of some 1,000 inhabitants. 
A substantial and elegant brick court-house has recently been 
erected here, which is a credit to the county. It is a good 
peach county, and tolerably healthful It has one paper, the 
Monficellonian . Population in 1870 was 9,960 ; in 1860 was 
9,078; in 1850 was 3,276. 

FRANKLIN COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Madison and Crawford, east by 
Johnson and Sarber, south by Sarber and Sebastian, west by 
Sebastian and Crawford. Surface is hilly, with the exception 
of the bottoms. Soil good for cotton and corn, grain and hay. 
Rich coal beds are found in this county, near Ozark, the 
county seat, situated on the A^rkansas River. Veins of coal 
two or three feet thick are now open. Other minerals, iron, 
and it is said copper, have been found here. The Little Rock 
and Fort Smith Railroad runs through this county. Land 
can be bought at from $5 to |30 per acre. Timber is abundant, 
such as walnut, maple, white and black oak, etc. Population 
in 1870, 9,627 ; in 1860, 7,298. The Arkansas River passes 
entirely through this county. 

FULTON COUNTY ' 

Is bounded on the north by Missouri, east by Sharp county, 
south by Izard, and west by Marion county. Surface is broken 
and ridgy. Soil fertile, known as " mulatto barren," yielding 
of corn and wheat and fruit prodigally. Sheep thrive and 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 73 

hogs grunt and grow fat upon a hundred hills. Minerals : 
lead, iron, and traces of silver and copper. The "Mammoth 
Spring " is here. H'or a further account of this, see Appendix. 
Well timbered as well as watered. One railroad only is at 
present expected in this county. Salem is the county seat. 
Population in 1870, 4,843 ; in 1860, 4,024. 

GRANT COUTNTY 

Adjoins Hot Spring and Jefferson counties. Surface undu- 
lating and ridgy. Soil good in the lower lands. Products, 
cotton, corn, grass, hay and fruit. Rich in minerals. One 
railroad, the Arkansas and Louisiana, to run through this 
county. It is a new county. Sheridan is the county seat. Its 
future is promising. Population in 1870, 3,943. 

GREENE COUNTT 

Is the northeast corner county of the State, Randolph and 
Lawrence on the west, and Craighead county on the south. 
Surface broken ; soil good for cotton, corn, grain, grapes, 
and other fruit. Good stock county. Well watered and 
timbered. St. Francis River forms its eastern boundary. 
Gainsville is the county seat. Helena and Iron Mountain 
Railroad runs through this county. Tolerably healthful. 
Population, 7,573 ; in 1860 was 5,843. 

HEMPSTEAD COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Pike, east by Nevada, south by 
Latayette and Little River, west by Little River and Sevier 
counties. Land is broken, with rich bottoms. Soil of the 
"hog-wallow" variety, if you know what that is, for we are 
sure we don't. At all events, it must be rich, for it produces 
from forty to fifty bushels of corn, and a bale or more of 
cotton per acre. Spanish oak, beach, pine and walnut grow 
here. Washington, the county seat, is a " right smart" town 
of nearly 2,000 inhabitants. The Cairo and Fulton Railroad 
runs through this county. Population 13,768 ; in 1860 
was 13,989. 

HOT SPRING COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Saline and Montgomery, east by 
Saline and Grant, south by Dallas and Clark, west by Clark 
and Montgomery. Surface is rough and mountainous. Soil 



74 ARKANSAS 



not to be boasted of, yet good in the valleys. Its chief wealth, 
however, is of a mineral character. Here are the famed Hot 
Springs, fifty-four in number, which attract so many invalids. 
The water from some of these springs has proved itself a 
specific for many grievous maladies. In " Magnet Cove," of 
this county, can be found a greater variety of minerals than 
we have space to enumerate. There is an immense mass of 
magnetic iron ore here, and the best novaculite rock on the 
continent. The Cairo and Fulton Railroad will soon reach 
this county. Population 5,877 ; in ] 860, 5,035. County seat. 



Rockport. 



INDEPENDENCE COUNTY 



Lies in the northeast part of the State, on both sides of the 
White River, and is bounded on the north by Sharp and 
Lawrence, east by Jackson, south by White, Jackson and 
Van Buren, west by Van Buren and Izard counties. Surface 
is broken and hilly, with fertile valleys and wide river bottoms. 
Soil excellent for cotton, corn, small grain and grass, and 
equally good for fruit and stock. Minerals are lead, manganese 
and iron, with traces of copper and zinc. Timber, elm, box 
elder, walnut, hickory, hackberry, oak, etc. Two or three 
railroads are projected through this county. White river is 
navigable above Batesville, the county seat, a thrifty town of 
some 1,200 inhabitants. It has an able bar, and is the home 
of our present Governor, Elisha Baxter. Batesville is sure to 
become a handsome and important town. Population in 1870, 
14,566 ; in 1860, 14,307. Bilious disorders prevail on the 
lowlands, but the people are usually healthy and thriving. 

IZARD COUNTY 

Joins Independence on the northwest, lies south of Fulton, 
north of Van Buren, and east of Marion and Searcy. Surface 
is very irregular — high hills, deep valleys, and river bottoms. 
Soil produces cotton, corn, small grain, and grapes, with other 
fruits. Sheep do remarkably well, and hogs make themselves 
and their owners fat. Lead mines have been worked here. 
Timber is plenty. White river runs through the county diag- 
onally from northwest to southeast. Healthful, except in the 
bottoms. County seat is Mount Olive, on the White River. 
Population 6,806; in 1860, 7,215. One railroad hoped for 
Boon, the Memphis and Kansas City. There is an academy at 
La Crosse, in this county, in a flourishing condition. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 75 



JEFFERSOE" COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Prairie and Pulaski, east by 
Arkansas and Lincoln, south by Lincoln, west by Grant and 
Dallas. Surface generally very level, and soil very rich and 
productive. From forty to seventy bushels of corn, and from 
one to two bales of cotton per acre are obtained. The Mem- 
phis and Shreveport, and Little Kock, Pine Bluff and New 
Orleans R. R. will pass through this county. Senator Clayton's 
farm lies in this county on the Arkansas River. Pine Blufl 
is the county seat, a flourishing town of some 2,500 inhabitants 
and rapidly growing. Tt has many handsome and substantial 
brick buildings, and is an important shipping point. Two 
papers, the Hepublican and the Press, are sustained here Pop- 
ulation of county in 1870, 15,733 ; in 1860, 14,971. This is 
one of the wealthiest counties in the State. 

JACKSON COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Lawrence, east by Craighead, 
Poinsett and Cross, south by Woodruff, west by White and 
Independence counties. Surface usually level, rougher in the 
north. Soil rich. Products, cotton, small grain and fruits. 
Well watered and timbered. The Cairo and Fulton Railroad 
runs through this county. County seat. Jacksonport, on White 
River. Population 7,2t)8 ; in 1860 was 10,493. This county 
has undeveloped mineral resources. 

JOHNSON COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Madison and Newton, east by 
Pope, south by the Arkansas River, west by Franklin county. 
The celebrated " Spadra Coal Mines " are in this county.* 
The Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad runs through this 
county. The soil is fertile, the surface irregular and moun- 
tainous. Clarksville, the county seat, is a town of about 800 
inhabitants. Population 9,152 : in 1860 was 7,612. This is a 
good county in which to locate. 

LAYFAYETTE COUNTY 

Is the southwest corner county. Surface mostly level. Soil 
rich but wet. Prairie and timber are interspersed. Large 
cotton crops grow on the Red River bottoms. The Cairo 

*See Appendix, title " Spadra Coal Mines." 



76 ARKANSAS I 



and Fulton Eailroad goes through this county. Bilious com- 
plaints prevail. Lewisburg is the county seat. Population 
9,139 ; in 1860 was 8,464. 



LAWRENCE COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Randolph, east by Greene and 
Craighead, south by Jackson and Independence, west by 
Sharp. Surface is broken and ridgy, with deep valleys. Soil 
is good. Products, cotton, corn, small grains and hay. Min- 
erals, lead, iron, copper and zinc. A good stock county, with 
plenty of good water and timber. The Cairo and Fulton 
Eailroad runs through the county. County seat is Powhattan. 
Population, 5,981 ; in 1860 was 9,372. A county with a good 
future. 



LITTLE RIVER COUNTY 

Lies in the southwest part of the State, south of Sevier, west 
of Hempstead, east of Indian Territory, north of Texas. Sur- 
face broken — -hills, valleys and river bottoms. Soil rich, good 
for corn and cotton, especially in the Red River bottoms. 
Timber, pine, gum, beach, walnut, etc. Red River is on the 
south and Little River on the north. Rocky Comfort is the 
county seat. A very healthful county for gnats, flees and 
mosquitoes ; not so much so for people who love tbeir ease. 
Population in 1870 was 3,236. A new county. 



LINCOLN COUNTY 

Lies south of Jefferson and the Arkansas River, west of Desha, 
north of Drew, east of Mallas and Bradley. Surface rolling, 
and swelling plateaus. Soil fertile. Products are cotton, corn 
and grasses. Timber abundant. The New Orleans, Pine 
Bluff and Little Roek Railroad runs through the county. The 
county seat has been changed so often that we can hardly keep 
track of it. At present it is Star City. The city, like a star, 
is at present somewhat too distant tor human observation. 
Organized since the census was taken, hence the population is 
unknown. It is probably about 5,000, to be subtracted from 
the census of the counties adjoining. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 77 



MADISON COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Carroll, east by Carroll and 
Newton, south by Franklin, Johnson and Crawford, west by 
Washington and Benton. Surface is very broken and irreg- 
ular, with high hills, deep valleys, narrow gorges and ravines 
with level land in the bottoms, and occasional plateaus and 
patches of prairie. The soil, like the surface, is very variable. 
In the bottoms it is rich and productive ; on the uplands and 
hillsides yields fairly and affords good pasturage, especially 
for sheep. Fruit generally grows well, such as apples, peaches, 
pears, plums, grapes, and smaller fruits and berries. Some 
cotton is grown, and the soil in some places is suited to 
tobacco. Corn, wheat, oats, rye, buckwheat, Irish and sweet 
potatoes, and various grasses do well. It is well watered by 
numerous small streams, and good springs are often to be met 
with. Timber, such as hickory, several kinds of oak, walnut, 
paw-paw and some pine'is in good supply. It is one of the 
richest mineral counties in the State, affording coal, lead, iron, 
copper, silver and zinc. At present little is done for want of 
transportation, toward utilizing this natural wealth. Hunts- 
ville is the county seat, a small town of some 250 inhabitants. 
The public buildings are poor, and the town is not growing 
rapidly. Population in 1870 was 8,231. 

NEWTON COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Carroll and Boone, east by Searcy, 
south by Pope and Johnson, and west by Madison. Surface is 
usually rough, rocky and mountainous. Soil in the valleys 
good for corn, small grain and fruit. Paw-paws here are na- 
tive and of premium excellence, as many a love-lorn swain 
would willingly attest. Water here gushes forth from the 
rock, without the thought of a Moses, clear, cool and life-giv- 
ing, alluring enough to tempt the lips of a De Leon ; and 
though it gives not perpetual youth, it give^ perpetual health 
to the hardy mountaineers, who rightly use and appreciate its 
virtues. Game is abundant in this and the adjoining counties ; 
deer, bears, wild turkeys, pigeons, rabbits, squirrels, with an 
occasional panther, or " painter,'' as they are usually called. 
Timber of the finest quality, sturdy pines and huge oaks, gar- 
nish the hills and mountains. Jasper, a village of about 100 
souls, is the county seat. It is a serene and moral town, if one 
can judge from the docket of the circuit court. Seldom more 



78 ARKANSAS 



than two or three criminal causes from ttie entire county are 
found thereon ; and the legal fraternity, in disgust, feel of their 
empty pocket books, think of their shoeless bairns, sigh for 
cash, and call for the drinks — waiting not for the clerk to ad- 
minister the oath. Population here — we have reason to sus- 
pect that Greeley's almanac-maker was subsidized, for he fixes 
the population at 4,374, while the State Marshal for Uncle Sam 
says 3,364 ; in 1860 it was 3,393. This county is not sneezed 
at, if it is rough and small in numbers, for some of the best 
lead mines and marble quarries in the State are located here, 
as yet almost untouched. One railroad, the Cape Girardeau, 
Van Buren and Texas is projected. 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by Yell and Scott, east by Hot 
Spring and Saline, south by Pike and Clark, west by Polk. 
Surface, like Newton, is mountainous. Soil not very good, 
except in Caddo Core. Products are corn, some cotton, wheat 
and grasses, with yams and sweet potatoes ; some fruit. The 
noted "Crystal Mountain" is in this county, and is a source of 
general interest to travellers. Well timbered. Minerals not 
developed. Marble and good building stone exist in profu- 
sion ; and valuable clays. There are several mineral springs 
in the county. County seat is Mount Ida, a small trading 
point. Population 2,984. In 1860 was 3,633. 



MONROE COUiSTY 

Is bounded on the north by Woodruff and St. Francis, east 
by St. Francis and Phillips, south by Arkansas, west by Ar- 
kansas, Prairie and Woodruff*. Surface diversified — plateaus, 
valleys, bottoms, and patches of prairie. Soil generally good. 
Products are cotton, corn, oats, hay, potatoes, fruit, etc. Min- 
eral resources not developed. White River traverses a part of 
the county, affording navigation. Clarendon is the county 
seat, situated on White River, at a point where it is expected 
that the Arkansas Central and Pine Bluff branch of the Cen- 
tral R. R. will unite, in which case Clarendon would become a 
smart town. Plenty of timber. Not as healthful as the north- 
western counties. Has a promising prospect. Population in 
1870 was 8,386, in 1860 was 5,657. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 79 



MISSISSIPPI COUNTY 

Is bounded on the north by State of Missouri, east by the 
Mississippi River, south by Crittenden, west by Poinsett and 
Craighead counties. Surface mostly low and flat. Soil rich. 
"Buck shot" land, subject to over-flow, produces cotton, corn, 
grasses and potatoes ; some fruit. There are bayous and 
marshes, and miry lakes in the interior. Timber abundant. 
Market, Memphis. County seat, Osceola. Population 3,633, 
in 1860 was 3,895. 



MARION COUNTY 

Joins Missouri on the south, Fulton and Izard counties on the 
west, Searcy on the north, and Boone on the east. Surface is 
broken, and many of the landscapes picturesque. High hills, 
covered with rocks and timber, and quiet valleys, are the 
characteristics. Soil is good for corn; cotton and grasses do 
well ; potatoes and fruit only require proper cultivation to be- 
come good crops It is esteemed a good stock county, and 
has plenty of good timber. The White River passes through 
this county diagonally, and some of the most fertile farms in 
the State lie along its banks. Lead mines, of great richness, 
are found in the northwest part of this county, near Lead 
Hill, in Boone county. They are now worked to some extent. 
The Memphis and Kansas City R. R. will pass through this 
county. County seat is Yellville, a town of thrift before the 
war, burned during the war, now a village of about 300 souls. 
It is a good trading point. In 1871, if we mistake not, this 
county produced 3,000 bales of good cotton. Lr. Leighton, 
living at Yellville, is one of the most successful and skillful 
bee-keepers in the State, and is the inventor of an excellent, 
patented bee-hive. This is a healthful county, and its popula- 
tion, like that of the north-western counties, mostly white. 
In 1870, it was 3,979 , in 1860, 6,192. It was devastated by 
the war. Land is cheap, and poor men, by industry, are grow- 
ing rich. There is an academy at " Mountain Home," in this 
county. 

NEVADA COUNTY 

Lies south of Clark and Pike, west of Ouachita, north of 
Columbia, east of Hempstead, Surface rolling, with wide and 
fertile bottoms. Cotton, corn, grain, yams and fruit do well. 



80 



ARKANSAS : 



Timber, in variety, is abundant. Cairo and Fulton R. R. 
runs through the northern part of this county. Jasper is* the 
county seat. It is a new county, hence population is not 
known. The Miss., Ohio & R. R. R. R.* is expected to pass 
through this county sometime. 

OUACHITA COUNTY 

Lies south of Clark, west of Calhoun, north of Union and 
Columbia, east of Hempstead and Lafayette. Surface is un- 
dulating, with fertile bottoms. Soil produces from 40 to 70 
bushels of corn, and a bale or more of cotton to the acre. 
Here are lignite coal beds of excellent quality and good thick- 
ness, which have been mined with profit. The Ouachita river 
runs through this county, affording navigation the entire 
length a part of the year. Beech, oak, pine, ash, hickory, 
basswood, etc., abound. Camden is the county seat— an im- 
portant commercial town of some 2,000 inhabitants, and 
growing. It has two papers, the Journal and Democrat. 
Both appear to be well sustained. The U. S. Land Office is 
located here, and the Memphis, Little Rock & Shreveport R.R. 
will cross the Ouachita at Camden, where it is expected to 
form a junction with the Miss., Ohio & R. R. R. R. Camden 
has many handsome brick business houses, and is one of the 
best towns in the State. Its future is very promising, and it 
can hardly fail to become quite a city. Population of county 
12,975. In 1860 was 12,936. We feel sure that the popula- 
tion of this county will rapidly increase. 

PHILLIPS COUNTY 

Lies south of St. Francis and Crittenden, west of the Missis- 
sippi river, north-east of Arkansas county, and east of Monroe. 
This is one of the richest agricultural counties in the State. 
The river bottoms smile annually with prodigal harvests. A 
bale or more of cotton, and from 40 to 80 bushels of corn per 
acre, gladden the heart and distend the pocket-book of the 
husbandman. Just below Helena terminates " Crowley's 
Ridge." From its foot gush cool, clear springs, which delight 
the eye. Immense forests of fine timber, such as beech, wal- 
nut, oak, poplar, gum and sugar tree, add value to the soil. 
Helena is the county seat, a thriving town of some 3,000 

* See list of Abbreviations in Appendix. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 81 

inhabitants, destined to be a city, at no distant day, having, as 
it does, the advantages of both the Mississippi river, and of 
several railroads, of which further information is given under 
the title of " Kailroads." Population 15,372. In 1860 was 

14,877. 

PIKE COUNTY 

Lies south of Montgomery, east of Polk and Sevier, north of 
Hempstead and Nevada, and west of Clark. Surface in the 
southern part is level, with fertile creek bottoms. More hilly 
in the northern portion. Products same as adjoining counties. 
Water and timber plenty. Js a rich mineral county. Has 
lead, iron, slate, gypseous marl, limestone, g^^psum and coal. 
Little River furnishes water power. Murfreesboro is the 
county seat, a small village. Population of county 3,788. In 
1860, 4,025, 

PERRY COUNTY 

Lies south of the Arkansas river, joins Pulaski on the west 
and north. Saline and Y^ell on the north, and Yell on the east. 
It is near enough to Little Rock to enjoy a good market. 
Timber and water a fair supply. Products the usual staples 
of the other counties. Minerals, coal and good building stone, 
with valuable clays. County seat is Perry ville, a small village. 
Population of county, 2,685. In 1860, 2,465. 

POINSETT COUNTY 

Lies south of Craighead, w^est of Mississippi, north of Cross, 
east of Jackson county. Land rolling and ridgy. Soil rich. 
Water and timber a good sup[>ly. St Francis railroad runs 
through this county, also " Crowley's Rid2:e." Countv seat is 
Harrisburg. Population 1,720. In 1860,^3.621. The Helena 
and Iron Mountain Railroad goes through this county. 

POLK COUNTY^ 

Lies south of Scott, adjoining the Indian Territory. Surface 
rough and hilly, rocky and mountainous. Minerals, lead, iron, 
limestone and novaculite rock or hone stone. County seat, 
Dallas, a little village. Timber and water a fair supply. Soil 
generally uncultivated, and not excessively rich. Population 
3,376 in 1870. In 1860, 4,262. 
—6 



82 ARKANSAS 



POPE COUNTY 

Lies north of the Arkansas River, west of Van Buren and 
Conway J east of Johnson, and south of Newton and Searcy 
counties. Surface is broken, with bottom land of great fer- 
tihty. Cotton, corn, potatoes, grain, grass and fruits do well. 
Usual varieties of timber plenty. Rich coal beds in this 
county. Dover is the county seat. This county needs a good 
large immigration of quiet peace-loving men to neutralize its 
lingering spirit of war. Norristown and Galta Rock, on the 
river, are shipping points, and Russelville is tlie pleasantest 
town in the county and is on the line of the Little Rock and 
Fort Smith Railroad. Population, 8,409 ; in 1860, 7,883. 

PRAIRIE COUNTY 

Lies east of Pulaski, south of white, west of Woodruff and 
Monroe, north of Jefferson and Arkansas. De Vails Bluff is 
the county seat. Land, prairie and timber. The Memphis 
and Little Rock and the Arkansas Central pass through this 
county. The White River borders this county, and its county 
seat is on the river and likely to be an important town. This 
is a splendid county for stock, and yields all the usual farm 
products of the other counties well. Population is 5,604; in 
1860 was 8,854 ; in 1850, 2,097. 

PULASKI COUNTY 

Lies nearly in the centre of the State. Is bounded by Conway 
and White on the north, by Prairie on the east, by Jefferson 
and Grant on the south, by Saline, Perr}^ and Conway on the 
west. Surface is rolling, and along the river there are wide 
bottoms. Soil is fertile in the bottoms, and very productive of 
corn and cotton. Timber consists of black walnut, oak, sweet 
gum, red mulberry and linden, with a luxuriant undergrowth 
in the bottoms and some half a dozen kinds of oak and 
hickory on the uplands. Wheat and corn do fairly on the 
uplands, and fruit is grown to some extent. Minerals are 
iron, lead and silver. The limonite ore assays nearly 52 per 
cent, and the pisolite 47.37 per cent, of iron. There are also 
large quarries of roofing slate, granite, limestone and white 
kaolin or porcelain clay, as well as good brick clay in profusion. 
The United States Land Office is located at Little Rock, the 
county seat. Land is rapidly advancing, and usually held at 
thrifty prices. James P. Henry, author of " Resources of 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 83 



Arkausas," says : '' Land that can now be bought at five dol- 
lars per acre will, in a few years, sell for fifty, yes, one hundred 
dollars per acre." All of which looks likely if the penitentiary 
is kept well filled, and business supersedes politics. Pulaski 
countv tells the following story in the census tables: 1820, 
1,923 ; 1830, 2,395 ; 1840,5,350; 1850,5,657; 1860,11,699; 
1870, 32,066. We think it has not far from 40,000 at this 
date, and growing rapidly in every respect. The Little Rock 
and Fort Smith, Memphis and Little Rock, Cairo and Fulton, 
Little Rock, Pine Bluft' and New Orleans, Arkansas Central, 
and several other roads passing and to pass through this 
county, centre at Little Rock. The intelligent inimigrant 
will be able to form his own opinion as to the promise ot its 
future. See desoription of Little Rock under the title of " The 
State Capital." , 

RANDOLPH COUNTY 

Joins Missouri on the south. Lies in the northwest part of the 
state, west of Greene, east of Sharp and north of Lawrence. 
County seat is Pocahontas. Two railroads and the Black River 
run through this county. Land broken ; soil rich ; usual pro- 
ducts of the other counties near it. Good large timber, and 
plenty of water. Fruit does well, also stock. Population, 
7,466 ; in 1860, 6,261. 

ST. FRANCIS COUNTY 

Lies west of Crittenden, north of Phillips, east of Monroe 
and Woodruff', south of Cross. Surface broken and hilly, 
except the bottoms. Good soil ; bottoms are wet and subject 
to inundation. Cotton, corn, wheat, oats and grasses flourish. 
Timber is abundant. Minerals, iron, and beds of shell marl. 
Madison is the county seat, situated at the junction of the 
Memphis and Little Rock and Helena and Iron Mountain 
Railroads. Population, 6,714 ; in 1860 was 8,672 This county 
is certain to improve rapidly, and enjoys the markets of St. 
Louis and Memphis. 

SCOTT COUNTY 

Lies south of Sebastian and Sarber, west of Yell, north 
of Polk and east of Indian Territory. Waldron is the 
county seat, a small town of two hundred souls. Surface 
broken and rolling. Soil produces cotton, corn, small grain 
and fruit. Timber, a fair supply of the usual varieties. Pop- 
ulation, 7,483 ; in 1860 was 5,145. 



84 ARKANSAS : 



SEARCY COUNTY 

Lies south of Marion and Boone, west of Izard, north of Van 
Buren and Pope, and east of Newton. Surface very irregular, 
with high table lands and precipitous hills and ridges, one of 
which boasts the profane appellation of "Devil's Back Bone." 
Sheep thrive here, and mutton is fat and cheap. Fruits of 
many varieties are native here. Minerals are lead, coal, iron 
and variegated marble. There are coves or valleys in this 
county of great fertility. Some cotton and corn is raised. 
On the bottoms corn produces finely. Marshall is the county 
seat, a small town of 200 inhabitants, with poor court-house 
and unthrifty appearance. Population of county in 1870 was 
5,614; in 1860 was 5,271. No speedy prospect of a railroad. 
A generally healthful county, and a quiet one to live in. This 
is a very fair wheat county. 

SALINE COUNTY 

Lies south of Perry, west of Pulaski, north of Grant and 
Hot Spring, east of Montgomery and Yell. Surface very 
broken. Very fair soil for corn, wheat and oats. It has val- 
uable mineral resources, as yet undeveloped. Granite, slate, 
marble, iron, lead and lignite beds. Timber and water, a 
sufficient supply. Land yet cheap ; some belongs to the Little 
Bock and Fort Smith Railroad. Benton is the county seat. 
Population 3,911 ; in 1860 was 6,640. It has a prospect of one 
or more railroads before long, but railroads, like politicians' 
promises, are most uncertain things, e.g.^ the one above named. 
The nearness of this county to Little Rock, the commercial 
centre of the State, will push it forward. 

SEVIER COUNTY 

Joins the Indian Territory, lying south of Polk, west of Pike 
and Hempstead, and north of Little River county. Surface 
mountainous, with deep and fertile valleys in the northern 
part, and level, or slig,htly rolling, in the southern. Soil pro- 
duces a bale or more of cotton, 30 to 60 bushels of corn, and 
12 to 15 of wheat per acre. Minerals are the " Bellah " lead 
and silver mines, quarries of hmestone and calcareous marl, 
superfine slate, beds of iron ore and valuable salt mines. The 
lead ore assays 73 per cent, of lead, and 52J ounces of silver 
to the ton. One ton assayed in England yielded 73 per cent. 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 85 

of lead and 148 ounces of silver. Locksburg is the county- 
seat. It is well supplied with timber. Bilious disorders are 
common, and pneumonia in the winter and spring. The mor- 
tality is not alarming, however, and the acclimated suffer little. 
Population 4,492 ; in 1860, 10,516. No railroad at present. 

SHAKP COUNTY, 

Once a part of Lawrence, lies west of that county and of 
Randolph, north of Inde}>endence, east of Izard and Fulton. 
County seat is Evening Shade. Minerals, zinc and lead. The 
American Zinc Company, of New York, is engaged in working 
the mines of this county. They have a capital of about 
$1,000,000, with suitable machinery, a smelter and houses for 
the miners, stores, and in fact a snug and thrifty little village 
of their own. The soil is good ; the land high and broken ; 
good for stock and fruit. The St. Louis, Batesville and Little 
Kock Railroad will pass through this county. Population is 
5,400; in 1860 was not organized. This county is a good one 
for either the farmer or the miner. 

SARBER COUNTY 

Lies south of Arkansas River, west of Yell, north of Yell and 
Scott, east of Sebastian. Anderson is the county seat. Surface 
broken. Good crops of cotton, corn, grain and hay are grown 
here. Fruit of several kinds is grown. Potatoes will grow 
well with proper culture. Timber is oak, pine, maple, hickory, 
locust, ash, hackberry, persimmon, etc. Minerals, iron, coal 
and limestone. The Arkansas Central may pass through this 
county. Population not given in the census of 1870, as the 
county was not then organized. Estimated at 4,000. It has 
some fine water powers and minerals. 

SEBASTIAN COUNTY 

liies south of the Arkansas River, west of Franklin and Sar- 
ber, north of Scott and east of Indian Territory. Surface is 
somewhat broken in the north and east, and rolling prairie in 
the west. Id all points of view this must be conceded to be 
one of the very best counties in the State. Not only is it a 
good cotton county, but it produces corn, wheat, oats, rye, 
buckwheat and a great variety of grasses in profusion. There 
are farms in this county which have been under cultivation 
for many years, capable of yielding and do yield, 60 bushels 
of corn to the acre, and even more in good seasons. 



86 ARKANSAS : 



FRUIT. 

Although insufficient attention has been paid to fruit, it is 
not because the soil and climate are not both ready to encour- 
age its culture. Apples, peaches, grapes, pears, cherries, 
strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, plums and other fruit 
will grow well here, and when grown, yield to the husband- 
man a rich reward. 

VEGETABLES 

Of all kinds nearly, do well. Yams, sweet and Irish potatoes, 
beets, turnips, parsnips, celery, asparagus, onions, squashes, 
melons, pumpkins, radishes, lettuce, salsify, tomatoes, etc., etc. 
respond vigorously to proper cultivation. 

GAME AND FISH 

Are cheap and abundant in their season, such as deer, bears, 
turkey, geese, ducks, quails, pigeons, partridges, rabbits, 
squirrels of several kinds, prairie chickens, " 'possums/' and 
catfish, buffalo, bass, perch, pickerel, etc. 

MINERALS. 

This county, like many others in our wonderfully endowed 
State, can boast of more mineral wealth than some whole 
States in the east. Near Fort Smith there are extensive coal 
beds, which ramify over various parts of the county. Coal is 
worth about "two bits" (25 cents) a bushel in Fort Smith, and 
the mining interest pays at that. Hear what the late David 
Dale Owen, former State Geologist, says on this point in his 
Geological Report of Arkansas for the years 1859 and 1860 ; 
" The coal fields of Sebastian county are thicker and more 
extensive than any in the State. The coal is one of the most 
valuable kinds, especially for manufacturing purposes, and its 
thickness must exercise a most important influence on the 
future prospects of Sebastian county, especially in the location 
of lines of railroads in the valley of the Arkansas River." 

From Henry's " Resources of Arkansas," second edition, 
we take the following description of the 

TIMBER. 

" The forest of this county is densely covered by the finest 
of useful timber, such as oak, black walnut, hickory, gum, 
cotton wood, cherry, cedar, and yellow pine. The twenty or 
more saw mills in the county, engaged in sawing lumber to 
supply the demand for building in Fort Smith, make but a 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 87 

slight impression upon the vast timber resources of the county. 
The price of lumber in Fort Smith is frem seventeen to twenty 
dollars, at the mills from ten to twelve dollars per thousand 
feet. Walnut lumber from fifteen to thirty- live dollars per 
thousand feet." 

RAILROADS. 

The Little Rock and Fort Smith is now in process of 
construction, and if it had been well managed, would have 
been at Fort Smith long ago. There is some prospect that 
this road will be completed within the next year. It is now 
running daily trains to a point some ten miles above Lewis- 
burg. The present State Legislature will, it is hoped, prick 
the hide of this company if they do not push along the road. 

The Fort Smith and Kansas City road is also a magnifi- 
cent project, at present, we regret to say, on paper and in the 
pockets of the charter holders. It is impossible to prophesy 
when this road will be built. It has State aid to the amount 
of $15,000 per mile, and could obtain generous aid from the 
counties if it would show the people that it means business by 
pushing ahead with the work, and quit building so much 
railroad with their mouths. Population in 1870 was 12,640 ; 
1860 was 9,238. See " Principal Towns," for a description of 
Fort Smith. Greenwood is the county seat. Present popu- 
lation of county, about 14,000. 



x^ 



UNION COUNT 

Lies south of Bradley, Calhoun and Ouachita counties, west 
of Ashley, north of the State of Louisiana, east of Columbia 
county. Surface generally level and low. Soil produces 
about a bale of cotton, from 12 to 30 bushels of corn, and 
about 12 bushels of wheat per acre. Timber is plenty and 
good in quality and variety. Vegetables grow well. In this 
and neighboring counties may be found mulberry and china 
trees, and the sensitive and almost human Mimosa. Minerals 
are iron and valuable clays. The Ouachita River borders this 
county, affording good transportation to the New Orleans 
markets. The Arkansas and Louisiana Railroad is projected 
through this county. El Dorado is the county seat. Popula- 
tion, 10,571, in 1860, 12,288. 

VAN BUREN COUNTY 

Lies south of Searcy and Izard, west of Independence and 
White, north of White and Conway, east of Pope. Surface 



88 ARKANSAS : 



broken and hilly, with some good bottoms. Soil produces 
good crops of corn, cotton, small grain, hay and fruit. Tim- 
ber is ash, oak, walnut, hickory, etc. It has valuable minerals: 
iron, lead, marble and limestone, and it is thought tin. Game 
abounds in this county. Chnton, a small town of about 200 
inhabitants, is the county seat. It is located on a bottom, and 
is sometimes overflowed. Public buildings poor. Population 
5,107 ; in 1860 was 5,357. 

WHITE COUNTY 

Joins Van Buren on the southeast and Pulaski on the north. 
Surface is rolling, with good bottoms. Soil yields fine crops 
of cotton, corn, grain and hay. This is a first-rate stock 
county, and good for fruit. Timber abundant, well watered 
by the White River and tributaries. The Cairo and Fulton 
E. R. runs daily trains through this county now. Searcy, a 
town of about 1,200 inhabitants, is the county seat. Popula- 
tion 10,347. In 1860, 8,316. This county has a very promis- 
ing future, and must rapidly increase in numbers and wealth. 
It has two papers, the Jttecord and Tribune. 

WOODRUFF COUNTY 

Joins White on the east and Jackson on the south. Surface 
generally level. Soil rich, yielding large crops of cotton and 
corn ; also good for fruit and grain. Timber is plenty, of the 
usual varieties. Augusta, the county seat, is a thriving town 
of nearly a thousand inhabitants, on the White River, thus 
having advantages of navigation the most of the year. The 
Cairo & Fulton R. R. runs near this county, and railroads are 
projected through it. The Augusta Sentinel is published here, 
and we believe the Bulletin^ though we have not seen it lately. 
Population 6,891. In 1860 was not organized. 

-WASHINGTON COUNTY. 

We are' under obligation to Charles L. McClung, Esq., for the 
most of the material for the following sketch : Washington 
county lies in the northwest corner of the State adjoining 
Benton on the south, Madison on the west, and Indian Terri- 
tory on the east. The general surface of the county is broken, 
especially in the eastern and southern portions. In the west- 
ern part of the county are several large prairies. The soil is 
usually very good and productive, of the flint and sand-stone 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 89 



varieties. The prairies are excellent for cultivation, as well as 
the land bordering the streams, and much of that on the top 
of the mountains. The hill and mountain sides are usually 
covered with grass, affording good grazing for stock. Orch- 
ards and the grape flourish best, as a rule, upon the slopes. 
The county has a very good market, for most of its produce, 
in Texas and the Indian Territory, as well as on the Arkansas 
River, the chief difficulty existing in deficient transportation. 
Whether the settler desires to raise grain, stock, fruit, or all 
combined, he can hardly find a better county in which to 
locate. All kinds of grain do well. It is only necessary to 
plow deeply and cultivate properly, to insure good crops of 
almost any kind. The winters are generally short and mild, 
making stock raising very profitable, if attention is paid to 
good breeds. Washington county is destined to be one of the 
very best fruit growing, stock raising, and agricultural coun- 
ties in the United States. 

MINERALS. 

In this county are found good bituminous coal, free of 
iron pyrites, valuable fire-clay, iron in profusion, lead, traces 
of gold, and indications amounting to a " smell " of " petro- 
leum," and a fair share of the " Nasby " hard-shell democracy. 
Assayed specimens of the argentiferous galena yielded as high 
as 50 ounces of silver to the ton. 

TIMBER. 

The top of the Boston mountains have a fine growth of 
white oak, cherry, black walnut, yellow pine, hickory, sugar 
tree, mulberry, locust, post-oak, black-oak, pine-oak, etc., 
while the bottoms are covered with elm, maple, hackberry, 
sycamore, hazel, sumach, plum and paw-paw. The cherry, 
black walnut and oak grow to very large size on the moun- 
tains, affording splendid timber. The principal part of the 
yellow pine is found in the northeast part of the county. It 
gives employment to several saw mills, and there is plenty of 
room for more. 

WATER. 

The coimty is abundantly supplied with water. There 
are not only many good, clear springs, furnishing good stock- 
water and water power, but the county is traversed by several 
good-sized streams, among which are the West Fork, Middle 
Fork and Main Branch, all of the White River, in the eastern 
part of the county, while in the west there is the Illinois River, 



90 ARKANSAS I 



which has its source in this county, runs north through Ben- 
ton county into the Indian Territory, and finally empties into 
the Arkansas River. Besides these, there are many smaller 
tributary streams. These streams are generally swift, and the 
water clear and wholesome, affording unrivalled opportunities 
for successful stock raising. 

GOVERNMENT AND OTHER LANDS. 

In this county and Benton there are at this date, Feb- 
ruary 1, 1873, about 650,000 acres of government land vacant, 
all subject to homestead entry by paying the usual fees. 
Nearly all this land is covered with fine timber, and is located 
on the mountains. No land subject to pre-emption. Good 
land can be bought at from $3 to |35 per acre, according to 
location and improvements. The general appearance of most 
of the improvements is far below that of farms in the Northern 
States. 8ome, however, have creditable buildings, which can 
be bought at reasonable prices. We would not advise any 
one to leave a good home to come here, at least not till an 
exploration of the country is first made. Any information 
relating to the lands of the county can be obtained by addres- 
ing with stamp, Chas. L. McClung & Co., Fayetteville, Ark. 

INCREASE OF POPULATION. 

In 1830 the population of Washington county was but 
2,182; in 1840, 7,148; in 1850, 9,970 ; in 1860, 14,673 ; in 1870, 
17,266 ; in 1873 about 20,000, it is estimated. Churches of 
the various denominations are scattered through the county, 
and several villages, Cane Hill, Cincinnati and McGuire's 
Store, do a thriving business The classic shades of " Hog 
Eye " also illuminate the borders of the county, and the noses 
of contiguous admirers of the extract of maize with i ellided. 
For a description of Fayetteville, see title " Principal Towns 
of Arkansas." 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

This county is noted for its pure air, its general health- 
fulness and picturesque mountain scenery. There are few if 
any stagnant pools or malarious swamps, and the limpid streams 
lend a charm to the varied landscape. The average elevation 
of the county is about 1,200 feet above the sea level. Many 
of the bottoms are nearly a mile wide, bordered with moun- 
tains and hills, which stand like majestic sentinels, overlooking 
the fruitful valleys below. Cotton grows to some extent, and 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 



91 



tobacco, potatoes and the different grasses are sure to be 
profitable crops. The fruit and flour of this county have a 
reputation as wide as the State, and in point of education it 
is second to none. Besides the Arkansas Industrial Univer- 
sity, Cane Hill College and several schools of a private 
character of more or less merit, the public schools throughout 
the county are in a better condition than in most other counties 
of the State. The people are generally intelligent, and 
reasonably moral, except near election time. The county 
indebtedness is small, compared with its ability to pay, and 
the population second only to that of Pulaski, the capital 
county of the State. In 1870 its population was only 17,266, 
but at present it is estimated near 20,000. Below we give the 
census of its several townships and of the corporate town and 
county seat, Fayetteville. 



Township. 


Total. 


Native. 


White. 


Colored. 


Brush Creek 


740 
1,611 
1,199 

514 
1,071 
1,200 
1,280 

936 
3,884 

955 
1,156 

887 
1,243 
1,545 


739 
1,604 
1,195 

614 
1,065 
1,197 
1,279 

935 
3,835 

930 
1,154 

874 
1,242 
1,542 


722 
1,503 
1,191 

605 
1,063 
1,146 
1,272 

882 
3,554 

805 
1,139 

871 
1,226 
1,516 


18 


Cane Hill 


108 


Clear Creek 

Cove Creek 


8 
9 


Elm Spring , 


8 


Illinois 


52* 


Marr's Hill 


8 


Mountain 


54 


Prairie 


330 


Fayetteville 


150 


Richmond 


17 


Vineyard 


16 


West Fork 


17 


White River 


29 







*This township has also two Indians. 



YELL COUNTY 

Lies south of the Arkansas River, about midway between 
Little Rock and Fort Smith, bordering the river which forms 
its northern boundary. Surface is broken, with some patches 
of prairie, and good bottoms. Soil excels for corn and cotton, 
and is good for stock and fruit, hay and potatoes — 80 bushels 
of corn to the acre have been raised on its river bottom lands. 
Timber is abundant and lumber cheap. Here are rich deposits 
of coal and iron, and valuable limestone and clays. Danville 
is the county seat, and Dardanelle the chief town. The former 



92 ARKANSAS 



is in the interior, the latter on the Arkansas river, and is a 
busy, growing town of some 2,000 inhabitants, with commodi- 
ous warehouses and substantial business blocks, good schools 
and churches, and a well-sustained newspaper, the Transcript, 
formerly the Chronicle. The U. S. Land Office is located here, 
transferred from Clarksville. Population 8,048, in 1860, 6,333. 
The Little Rock & Fort Smith R. R. will pass about four miles 
from Dardanelle. This is a growing county, with a good 
prospect, and many staunch business men. 



This ends the description of counties. We think we can 
justly claim that we have given more valuable information 
about the several counties than is elsewhere accessible to the 
public. Doubtless, however, some mistakes have crept in 
which we shall be glad to rectify, if our readers will kindly 
call our attention to them before we issue the next edition. 
We have personally visited about half of the counties des- 
cribed, and have been at much pains to obtain correct infor- 
mation. And we feel sure that we have embodied much that 
never before has been made public. While we have endeav- 
ored to do justice to all, we have not concealed our knowledge 
as to objections to some counties of which an immigrant 
should, for truth's sake, be made aware. 

Lest some may think too much space has been given to 
Washington County, it may be well to remind them, that, in 
point of population and otherwise, it is the second in the 
{State. 



CHAPTER X. 



The State Capital. 



LITTLE ROCK, 

The State capital and the county seat of Pulaski county, 
is situated in the central part of the State, on the south 
bank of the Arkansas Itiver. It is not our purpose to 
say very much about Little Rock. It is abundantly able to 
speak for itself. Its three daily and weekly papers are suffi- 
cient to spread abroad all necessary information relating to its 
advantages and growth. As a description of the State, how- 
ever, would be incomplete without some reference to its capi- 
tal city and metropolis, we shall give a brief outline of some 
of its most important features. It is likely to maintain its 
pre-eminence as the largest and most flourishing citj in the 
State. It has ten well-sustained churches, of the various de- 
nominations, and several good scbools. St. John's College, 
and St. Mary's Academy for girls, are located here, the former 
having collegiate powers and a military department. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

There are three newspapers, daily and weekly ; the Repub- 
lican and Journal, both republican, and the Gazette, democratic. 
Also a monthly paper, the Educational Journal ; neutral in pol- 
itics, and devoted to the educational interest of the country. 

It has several banks and hotels, and an able bar. The 
financial affairs of the city are in good condition, its scrip 
standing at par. 

It has a good and commodious wharf and Chamber of 
Commerce, and a chartered water works and street railway 
company. The principal business streets are Markham and 
Main. The city is lighted by gas — we believe the main pipe 
has a direct connection with the newspaper offices of the city^ 
and hence there is always a good supply. It has several man- 
ufacturing establishments, and needs twenty times as many 
more. 



94 ARKANSAS 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS 

Are the Penitentiary, Deaf, Mute and Blind Asylum, and Cap- 
itol building. Little Hock has a poetical title, not unjustly 
obtained, of the " City of Roses." 

The assessed value of city property in 1871 was |8,709,475 
with additions increasing the sum to |8, 870,004. Since 1867, 
there has been a very rapid increase in both wealth and pop- 
ulation. The city is regarded as quite healthful for a river 
location. Distance from 8t. Louis to Little Rock is 340 miles, 
and there is now a direct railroad connection between the two 
points, via the Cairo and Fulton railroad. The Memphis and 
Little Rock railroad also runs daily trains ; distance between 
Little Rock and Memphis, 131 miles. The Little Rock and 
Fort Smith railroad will give the city a western and northern 
trade of great value when it is completed. Some seven or 
eight other railroads are projected, and some will be built 
before long. 

Thus it will be seen that the city has a very bright pros- 
pect, and its natural advantages are such that it cannot fail to 
become a thriving inland city. Ten years from now it ought 
to have at least thirty-five or forty thousand inhabitants. The 
State Agricultural and Mechanical Association is located here 
and this last year held its fifth annual fair. Little Rock is 
endowed by nature with vast advantages which must make 
her what she ought to be, the largest inland city of the South- 
west. The population of Little Rock in 1860 was 3,727 ; in 
1865, about 4,000; in 1870, 12,380, and at the present date we 
estimate it at 18,000. For a list of State officers, see 
Appendix. 

Principal Towns of Arkansas. 



FORT SMITH, 

Situated on the Arkansas River, contiguous to the Indian 
Territory, will take rank as one of the very first towns of the 
State, in a commercial point of view. In 1837 Fort Smith 
was laid out as a town, and for many years it was but little 
more than a rough frontier village, with a mixed population 
and a superabundance of doggeries. Its location is favorable, 
overlooking the river upon an elevated plateau. The business 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 95 

part of the town is rapidly improving and has many good 
brick blocks, some faced with stone of unusual beauty, yet 
notwithstanding the partiality of a former pamphleteer, we 
do not think they "compare favorably with 8t. Louis or 
Chicago business blocks," magnifying glasses dispensed with. 
The principal business street is Garrison avenue. Many ele- 
gant houses adorn the suburbs of the town. There are several 
manutacturing establishments located at this place, among 
which are numbered a planing mill, one foundry and machine 
shop and two wagon factories. In the line of rehgious edi- 
fices, there are churches of the Presbyternian, Methodist, 
Episcopal, Lutheran, Christian, and Colored Methodist and 
Baptist societies. The schools are in good condition, and the 
municipal government better than in many other smaller towns. 
There are four newspapers : The Herald^tvi-WQokAy and weekly; 
The Patriot^ weekly; The New Era, tri-weekly and weekly; 
The Independent, weekly. The U. S. Court for the Western 
District of Arkansas is held at Fort Smith. At present it is a 
one " Story " affair. The bar of this town has a considerable 
reputation. The people are distinguished for their abhorrence 
of alcoholic liquids and their energetic business spirit. Several 
railroads are expected to pass through this town. The Little 
Rock and Fort Smith will probably be completed sometime 
within the next two years. This place has always been an 
eye-sore to Van Buren, the county-seat of Crawford county, 
about five miles distant, on the opposite side of the river, and 
will doubtless eventually seriousl}^ interfere with the business 
ot the latter, as in fact it does already. Fort Smith has 
unusual advantages, calculated to make it a prosperous inland 
city. Besides the valuable coal deposits which lie in Sebastian 
county, there are forests of good timber near the town, and 
all the other necessary material for the building up of a large 
and wealthy place. In 1860, Fort Smith had a population of 
1,529 ; in 1860, 2,227, of whom 1,816 were native, 411 foreign, 
1,682 white, 536 colored, and 9 Indians. Its present popula- 
tion is between three and four thousand, and its future 
remarkably promising. This town needs a first-class hotel. 

HELENA 

Is the county seat of Phillips county, situated on the Missis- 
sippi river. It is already an important town, and sure to 
become one of the first towns in the State. It has railroad 
connections with St. Louis and Little Rock, and will have 



96 ARKANSAS 



with several other points before long. This town has three 
well-sustained newspapers, the Shield, World and Clarion, one 
Democratic and two Republican. It is an important river ship- 
ping point, and handles a large amount of cotton. Crowley^s 
Ridge terminates near this town, and from its base flow numer- 
ous springs. An account of the Helena and Iron Mountain and 
Arkansas Central railroads will be found in another place. 
Helena is well provided with schools and churches, and the 
U. S. Court holds semi-annual sessions there. Its population 
in 1870 was 2,249, 1,140 of which were white, and 1,109 
colored. It claims no afiinity with " Slangville," a former 
township of the county, now obsolete. It has a good prospect 
and is growing fast. 

ARKADELPHIA 

Is a town of growing consequence, the county seat of Clarke 
county, and on the line of the Cairo and Fulton railroad. It 
is at the head of high water navigation, on the Ouachita river. 
Two newspapers, the Standard and the Republican, are located 
here. The town has a Chamber of Commerce, and does a lively 
business. Schools and churches, a good supply. Its popula- 
tion in 1870 was 948, of which 268 were colored. Its present 
population is estimated at 1,200. It is expected that the Cairo 
and Fulton railroad will reach this place by May, 1873, in 
which case the town is sure to make a rapid stride forward. 
We regard it as one of the best points south of the Arkansas 
river. 

DARDANELLE 

Is situated on the Arkansas river, in Yell county. It is an 
important shipping point, and has five warehouses and good 
business blocks. The U. S. Land Office is located there. It 
has one newspaper, the Arkansas Transcript. It is rapidly 
increasing in size and improving in appearance. It is a bad 
place for bald-headed men in the summer months on account 
of the profusion of mosquitoes, who have not been educated 
to properly regard a shining crown. Its population in 1870 
was 926, of which 181 were colored. Its present estimated 
population is 2,000, though we do not think it will quite reach 
that number. 

BATES VILLE, 

The county seat of Independence county, is a flourishing town 
at the head of navigation on White river. It has a fine 
court-house, which cost some $30,000 with a town clock in the 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 97 

dome, a feature we do not believe exists in any other town in 
the State. It has fine brick blocks, banking, school and 
church facilities, and is in short becoming an active and good 
sized town. The Cairo and Fulton railroad passes through 
the adjoining county, near Jacksonport, also a good sized town. 
This town is the home of our present Governor, Elisha Baxter. 
It has two papers, the Times and Republican. In 1860 its 
population was 930. In 1870,881, of which 234 were colored. 
It probably has a population of nearly 1,500 at this date, and 
a good prospect of continued growth. 

CAMDEN", 

The county seat of Ouachita county, is the most important 
town in South Arkansas. Situated on the Ouachita river, 
which is navigable a good portion of the year, it enjoys a 
large cotton trade with New Orleans. It has many substantial 
brick business blocks. Two flourishing newspapers send out 
their weekly cargoes of general and local information. The 
Mississippi, Ouachita and Red River, the Shreveport and 
Memphis, and the Arkansas and Louisiana railroads are to 
pass through this town. The U. S. Land Ofl^ce for the Oua- 
chita district is also located here. The population in 1870 
was 1,612, of which 612 were colored, and two Indians. Its 
present population doubtless exceeds 2,000 and it is rapidly 
growing. We look forward to the time when it will have a 
population of eight or ten thousand, and that at no very dis- 
tant day, if the proposed railroads are completed. 

FAYETTEVILLE, 

The county seat of Washington County, is a town of some 
1,200 inhabitants, if we include its immediate suburbs, situa- 
ted upon a hill which commands a magnificent view of the 
Ozark mountains, which rise like gigantic pyramids on the 
South and East. The town was devastated by the late war, 
and even now, traces of contending armies are to be found 
within its limits. Its business houses are generally good, 
many of them substantially built of brick. Among the best 
are the two bank buildings of W. H. Etter and Denton D. 
Stark, both of which are an ornament to the town and State. 
Fayetteville has a good trade with the surrounding country, 
and its merchants are usually prosperous and married. 
The white and colored public schools, a private school by Prof. 
Vaughn and the State University, make this a desirable place 
—7 



98 ARKANSAS 



to live. It has two newspapers, the Neins and the Democrat, 
which are hardly able to find room for their space for adver- 
tising. The court house, which adorns the public square of 
this town, is an attempted imitation of Solomon's Temple. 
On its top is a Chinese pagoda, which is supposed to have been 
designed by " Ah Sin," shortly after his episode with Bill 
Nye, with the wax still on his fingers. It is unnecessary to 
observe that it lays all the other public buildings of the State 
entirely in the shade. Architects in this countr}^ are born, not 
made, and we doubt not that there is the hereditary genius of 
forty generations concentrated in this chef-d'oeuvre of modern 
art. The scenery about this town is as fine as any in the State, 
and its healthfulness is attested by its physicians, who describe 
it as " miserabl}^ healthful." There is a steam flouring mill, 
and a sash and door factory here ; also, a marble cutter's 
establishment. There are five churches, and several chapels 
of his Infernal Lowness, the Devil. The society of the town 
is ranked with the best in the State. It has one good sized 
hotel, the " Mountain House," and several smaller ones. The 
National Cemetery is located near this place, M. J. Partridge, 
Sup't. Here are interred about 1,200 union dead, one a 
woman. Fayetteville has a promising future. It only needs 
a railroad or two to make it expand into a good sized town. 
There seems to be no immediate prospect of one, as far as we 
can learn, though several have been built through here on 
paper. The streets are in poor condition as a rule, and side- 
walks the exception, except on parts of the public square. 

The town government has never been very efficient, and 
hogs and cattle enjo}'^ the liberties of its streets unmolested. 
In this respect it is hoped there will eventually be improve- 
ment. It has an able bar, and several resident '' preachers" 
of various persuasions. 

Augusta, Jacksonport, Pochahontas, Van Buren, Benton- 
ville, Springfield, Lewisburg, Russellville, Monticello, Warren, 
Washington, and others are growing, promising towns, and 
along the lines of the various railroads, new towns are spring- 
ing up which will soon offer special inducements to immigrants. 



THE NEEDS OF ARKANSAS. 

Most of all she needs intelligent, sober and able-bodied 
men. There is opulence in muscle — in brawn as well as brain. 
The physical force. of an able-bodied man in the prime of life, 
is valued at $1,000. Every such immigrant, however poor in 



THE HOME FOR IMMIGRANTS. 99 

other respects, adds his wealth of sinew to the State. Her 
broad acresjneed myriads of toiling, robust men. The present 
industrial force of the State is not equal to the demand, or the 
development of her vast resources. From her sister States, 
and from the oppressed millions of Europe and Asia, she soli- 
cits assistance. She promises a cordial welcome to the higher 
classes of well trained skillful workmen. One of her greatest 
needs is thinking, educated laborers. Triumphant in her 
desperate strife with rebellion, crowned with fair Freedom, her 
loins girt with the lustrous cincture of loyalty, her step keep- 
ing time to the music of the Union, she now wants chiefly 
" high minded men" and well strung muscle. 

HOW TO REACH ARKANSAS. 

The State is easy of access by boat from any point on 
the Ohio or Mississippi rivers. Immigrants from the North 
and East, via Memphis, can come from that city to Jjittle Rock 
by way of White river, to De Vails Bluff, by the Memphis and 
Little Rock Railroad, or by boat via the Arkansas river- 
Immigrants from Germany will find an easy route to this State 
by either the Bremen or Hamburg line of steamers to New 
Orleans, from thence by Mississippi and Arkansas or Ouachita 
river steamers to any point. 

Besides the routes mentioned above, there are the Cairo 
and Fulton railroad, connecting Little Rock with St. Louis. 
The Atlantic and Pacific railroad, connecting with a line of 
stages from Pierce City, by which the immigrant will find 
transportation to almost any part of the State. In case the 
immigrant comes from any adjoining State, he will do better 
to come with a team, if he be a farmer, and bring such of his 
stock and household goods with him as circumstances will 
permit. Furniture costs more in this State than in the North 
and East, in most localities. Bedding can generally be brought 
with profit, but it would not be advisable to bring heavy freight 
a long distance. 

TO THE IMMIGRANT. 

In what we have said, we have aimed to be as impartial 
and veracious as circumstances and means of information 
would permit, but it would not be surprising if some mistakes 
are found upon investigation. This pamphlet is necessarily 
confined to the present knowledge which we have been able 
to obtain of the State. We think, however, that we can justly 
claim a reasonable degree of accuracy for our work, and less 



100 ARKANSAS 



of exaggeration and absolute untruth, than is common to 
publications of this character. It may be of interest to state 
in this connection, that the greater part of the people are 
disposed to receive the immigrant in an encouraging and hos- 
pitable manner, regardless of political opinions or preferences. 
Those who are exceptions to this rule, belong to a class who 
are not as yet aware that General Jackson is not now Presi- 
dent, and that our recent family disturbance is permanently 
settled. 

THE PRICE OF LABOR 

Varies, of course, largely, in proportion to the skill of the 
workman. Good farm hands get from $25 to $40 per month 
in some localities, but the average wages are not more than 
$15 and board. Good mechanics command from $2.00 to 
$8.00 per day. Of course one to command the latter price 
must be a very superior workman, such as a plasterer, or a 
competent foreman of some mechanical department. Car- 
penters of average skill get about $2.50 to $3.00 a day in most 
parts of the State. In the extreme southern part $4.00 is 
sometimes paid. Teachers get from $50 to $100 per month, 
at present in State scrip, worth usually in tax-paying time 
about 80 cents on the dollar. Day laborers get about $2.00 
a day on the railroads now progressing through the State. 
We advise none such to come to the State without a stout 
heart and willing hands. House rents are generally high. 
Farms can usually be rented at easy rates. Buildings are 
generally log cabins and poor. Let one thing, however, be 
distinctly understood. No one need come to Arkansas 
expecting to live or thrive without labor. Her forests, her 
hills and her valleys are ready and willing to respond to intel- 
ligent labor, but the land does not flow with milk and honey, 
and the site of the Garden of Eden has not been discovered 
as yet within its limits. It is in many respects a new rough 
country. It is far behind such States as Illinois and Iowa in 
general progress as well as in population, bnt we believe it is 
destined to overtake them, in many respects at least, in a few 
years, if her railroad system, so essential to the material and 
every other interest of the State, is not retarded in its devel- 
opment. We want immigrants to come to the State, if they 
come at all through any agency of ours, knowing that they may 
expect to " rough it " to a great extent, if they settle in the 
country, until they get well started, and that they may expect 
to work if they settle in the towns. If you come, come with 
your eyes open, and then stay. 



APPENDIX 



TO 



Arkansas! The Home for Immirats, 



-WITH- 



smisTicji m miimmm jmi 



-AND- 



OTHER VALUABLE INFORMATION 



Relating to Ai\kansas. 



k 



PPENDIX. 



LIST OF MONEY-ORDER OFFICES IN THE STATE. 

PosTOPFiCE. County. Postoffice. County. 

Arkadelphia Clark. Hamburg Ashley. 

Augusta Woodruff. Hot Springs Hot Spring. 

Benton ville Benton. Helena Phillips. 

Batesville Independence. Jacksonport Jackson. 

Clarkesville Johnson. Little Rock Pulaski. 

Camden Ouachita. Monticello Drew. 

De Vall's Bluff. Prairie. Napoleon Desha. 

Dardanelle Yell. Pine Bluff. Jefferson. 

Fort Smith Sebastian. Searcy White. 

Fayetteville Washington. Washington Hempstead. 

LIST OF NEWSPAPERS, 

Politics of each, and where published, in Arkansas. Those marked 
D. are Democratic; R., Republican ; N., neutral. 

Name. Town. County. 

Times, D, weekly Hamburg Ashley. 

Gazette, R, weekly Wittsburg Cross. 

Flower, R, weekly Magnolia Columbia. 

Wide-Awake, D, weekly Lewisburg Conway. 

Press, D, weekly Van Buren Crawford. 

Standard, D, weekly Arkadelphia Clark. 

Southwestern Republican, R, w'kly Arkadelphia Clark. 

Monticellonian, D, weekly Monticello Drew. 

Courier, R, weekly Hot Springs Hot Spring. 

Telegraph, D, weekly Washington Hempstead. 

Times, D, weekly Batesville Independence. 

Republican, R, weekly Batesville Independence. 

Press, D, weekly Pine Bluff. Jefferson. 

Republican, R, weekly Pine Bluff. Jefferson. 

Statesman, R, weekly Jacksonport Jackson. 

Democrat, D, weekly Camden Ouachita. 

Journal, R, weekly Camden Ouachita. 

Citizen, D, weekly Des Arc Prairie. 

Tribune, R, weekly Russel ville Pope. 

Journal. R, weekly DeVall's Bluff. Prairie. 

Gazette, D, daily and weekly Little Rock Pulaski. 

Republican, R, daily and weekly... Little Rock Pulaski. 

Journal, R, daily and weekly Little Rock Pulaski. 

Educational Journal, N, monthly..Little Rock Pulaski. 

World, D, daily and weekly Helena Phillips. 

Clarion, R, daily and weekly Helena Phillips. 

Shield, R, weekly Helena Phillips. 

Express, R, weekly Pocahontas Randolph. 

Courier, R, weekly Pocahontas Randolph. 



IV APPENDIX. 



Name. Town. County. 

Times, D, weekly Forest City St. Francis. 

Herald, D, weekly and tri-weekly..Fort Smith Sebastian 

New Era, R, weekly and tri-w'kly..Fort Smith Sebastian. 

Patriot, R, weekly Fort Smith Sebastian. 

Western Independent, N, weekly... Fort Smith Sebastian. 

Bulletin, D, weekly Augusta Woodruff. 

Sentinel, R, weekly.. Augusta Woodruff. 

Record, D, weekly Searcy White. 

Tribune, R, weekly Searcy White. 

Democrat, D, weekly Fayetteville... Washington. 

News, R, weekly Fayetteville Washington. 

Times, D, weekly Osceola Mississippi. 

Transcript, D, weekly Dardanelle Yell. 

In addition to these, there are two or three monthly real estate 
journals, published as advertising mediums. Of the above, 21 are 
Republican, 19 Democratic and two neutral. Several others have 
suspended since the recent election, and we are not sure that the list 
as it is does not include two or three which are now defunct. Of these 
the Weekly Gazette probably has the largest circulation, and is in 
many respects, notwithstanding its politics, the best paper in the State. 

THE NAME ''ARKANSAS." 

We take the following from an old copy of the Memphis Bulletin : 
" Most of our readers are aware that the once celebrated Major 
Noah, of New York, contended, with much skill, that the Indians of 
this continent are the descendents of the long lost ten tribes of Israel. 
In view of this theory, supported by many singular facts, showing 
practices existing among the Indians similar to peculiar requirements 
in the Mosaic law— it was with interest we heard the other day from 
J.J. Peres, Esq., of this city, formerly of Hazen in the Synagogue, 
that the name of the State of Arkansas answers to two roots in the 
Semitic tongue. Mr. Peers is an accomplished Orientalist, having a 
profound acquaintance with the Hebrew and its cognates, the Chaldee, 
Syric, etc. The two roots composing the name of Arkansas, are Aurak 
and Nausas. The former is a Chaldee form, once used by the prophet 
Jeremiah, meaning the earth— the latter is Hebrew, and means " to 
pine away," " to be sick." Assuming these two roots to be the basis 
of the name " Arkansas," the native name would mean, " The Sickly 
Land." This would intimate that chills and fever, the scourge of 
some portions of our sister State, were no strangers there two thousand 
years ago. The name of Arkansas comes to us through the French, 
as the ordinary pronunciation " Arkansaw" shows. The French 
settlers in that portion of the old Louisiana Territory received the 
name from a now extinct tribe of Indians, who spoke the Osage lan- 
guage. Scholars can verify the meaning of the Oriental roots by 
referring to the two roots— "alpharesh, koph and nun, samech, samech" 

SPADRA COAL MINES. 

A NEW FEATURE IN ARKANSAS. 

Our citizens, and those abroad, who are interested in the growth 
of our State, and the development of its vast resources, will be pleased 
to learn that the work has been commenced, in earnest, at theSpadra 



APPENDIX. 



coal mines, in Johnson county, on the Arkansas river. About two 
weeks ago the new and light draught tow boat, "Robt. 8emple," arri- 
ved at Spadra from Pittsburg, bringing a number of hands, including 
coal miners, boat builders, blacksmiths, etc. She also brought two 
coal barges loaded with railroad iron, cars, and mining tools of every 
description, and sufficient to put the mines at once in extensive work- 
ing order. About twenty-five hands are now at work, and more are 
on the way out. Ten coal barges are in process of construction at the 
mill on " Piney," and in the course of three weeks the " Semple" will 
be on her way to the Mississippi river with a tow of 500 tons of coal, 
navigation permitting. It is the intention of the owners of Spadra, 
to supply coal to all points on the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers, 
from Fort Smith to New Orleans, at a low price. The coal has been 
thoroughly tested and proves to be of a very superior quality. For 
house purposes it cannot be surpassed, in quality, by any west of the 
Alleghany mountains. The owners also contemplate running a rail- 
road from Spadra to Clarksville, to connect with the L. R. & F. S. R. 
R., thereby opening a direct communication for the transportation of 
coal to Memphis and the White river valley. 

The tow boat was selected and is commanded by Capt. Jeff. 
Baldwin. The miners are under charge of Mr. Dainty, who with Mr. 
Cowan, the boat-builder and general superintendent of works, comes 
highly recommended, from Pittsburg, as gentlemen of ability, energy 
and large experience. Nothing is now wanting to make the Spadra 
coal mines a perfect success, and a benefit to our State. 

Maj. G. A. Meyer, one of the owners of the property, is now at 
Spadra. We congratulate him on his success in this undertaking, and 
trust that while he thus labors to develop the resources of our State, 
may he realize from it, in proportion to his energy, enterprise and 
investment — Ft. Smith Herald, 1872. 

STATE PRODUCTS, ETC. 

In 1860, the cash value of farms and farming tools was estimated 
at $100,000,000. Live stock was valued at $22,000,000. The State pro- 
duced, as near as can be ascertained, 367,000 bales of cotton, 1,000,000 
pounds tobacco, 500,000 bushels oats, 18,000,000 bushels of corn, 80,000 
bushels of rye, 1,000,000 bushels of wheat, 500,000 bushels of peas and 
beans, 500,000 bushels of Irish potatoes, 1,500,000 bushels of sweet 
potatoes, 4,000,000 pounds of butter, and 1,000,000 pounds of honey. 

The value of slaughtered animals, in the same year, amounted to 
$4,000,000. 

In the same year, Arkansas had 518 manufacturing establishments, 
with a capital ot $1 316,610. The annual product was $2,880,578 ; the 
cost of labor $554,240, and of raw material $1,280,503, leaving a profit 
of $1,055,835, or 80 per cent, on the capital. Over three-fourths of this 
production consisted of lumber, flour, meal, and leather. Since which 
time, manufactures, especially of lumber, have largely increased. 
From 1850 to 1860, the increase in value of sawed and planed lumber 
in Arkansas was 1,000 per cent. 

In 1870, there were in the State 1,364 manufactories, with a capital 
of $2,137,738 ; 700 steam engines, of 6,980 horse power ; 134 water wheels, 
with 1,599 horse power; employing 4,133 males above 16 years old, 48 
females, adult, and 271 youth * Wages paid during the year, $754,950. 
Value of materials used, $4,823,651. Of products, $7,699,676. At the 
same date, there were also, 283 establishments for ginning cotton, with 
a capital of $344,825 ; 35 leather establishments, such as tanneries, etc., 
with a capital of $32,100 ; 312 saw mills, with a capital of $694,400 ; 13 
wool-carding mills, capital $32,500 ; 272 grist mills, capital $477,151. 



APPENDIX. 



PRICE OF BEEF, ETC., 

AT FAYETTEVILLE, FEBRUARY 9. 1873. 



Beef, per pound gross 2Jc 

'• net 5@6 

" retail 5@8 



Lumber, common boards, M 

" dressed '* " 

*' flooring, *' '* 

AppiiES, per bushel 

Butter, per pound 

Flour, per 100 pounds 

Dead politicians abundant but no buyers. 

CROPS OF ARKANSAS. 



Pork, per pound net 4@5o 

" retail 6@8 

Mutton, per head $2 00@3 00 

retail, per lb 4@8c 

$20 00 

30 00 

$35 00@40 00 

$ 50 

25 

5 00 



Crop. 



Indian corn. 

Wheat 

Rye 

Oats 

Potatoes 

Tobacco 

Hay 



Amount of Crop. 



25,000,000 bush 

1,500,000 " 

41,600 " 

671,000 '' 

460,000 " 

2,225,000 lbs. 

10,200 tons. 



Average yield 
per acre. 



m 

23i 
109 
666 



Value per bush 


ton or lb. 


$ 80 


1 30 


1 00 


62 


1 07 


15^ 


15 00 



Total Value of 
Crop. 

$20,000,000 

1,626,300 

41,600 

416,020 

. 481,500 

340,425 

153,000 



AVERAGE CASH VALUE PER ACRE. 



Indian corn $ 25 44 

Wheat 14 04 

Rye 18 20 

Oats 14 63 

Cotton, about 60 00 



Barley 

Buckwheat 

Potatoes $116 63 

Hay 22 50 

Tobacco 101 89 



Total average value for all the crops excepting cotton in Arkansas, 
$24.34 per acre. 

Here let us call attention to a comparative table, which is signifi- 
cant to all. 

TOTAL AVERAGE CASH VALUE OF STAPLE CROPS, FOR 
1870, IN THE FOLLOWING STATES. 



Per Acrk. 

Maryland $ 15 71 

Virginia 13 55 

North Carolina 12 87 

South Carolina 10 29 

Georgia 12 54 

Florida 14 63 

Alabama 16 31 

Mississippi 16 50 

Louisiana 25 49 



Per Acrb. 

Texas $18 12 

Tennessee 12 25 

West Virginia 16 03 

Kentucky 15 00 

Missouri 14 17 

Illinois 12 03 

Indiana 13 61 

Ohio 17 03 

Arkansas 24 34 



We might extend this showing still farther, but do not deem it 
necessary, as the table is accessible to all of our readers who are 
interested to make still further comparisons. Suffice it to say that of 
the thirty-seven States, only eight make a better showing than 
Arkansas in the table from which we quote. 



APPENDIX. 




vii 


STOCK OF ARKANSAS IN 1871. 


stock 


Number. 


Average price. 


Total Value. 




138,100 
67,900 
221,900 
132,600 
135,000 
863,600 


$73 98 
93 51 
11 82 
22 14 

2 32 

3 28 


$10,216,638 
6,349,329 




Oypti nnd otVier CB.ttle 


2,622,858 

2,935,764 

313,200 

2,832,608 




Sheep 

Hoffs 



The increase since the census has been very considerable, and the 
epizootic did but little harm in the State, compared to its ravages in 
the North and East. 

TABLE 
Showing the number of acres to each staple in 1870. 



Acres. 

Potatoes 4,128 

Tobacco 3,340 

Hay 6,800 



Total ^ 947,981 



Corn 786,163 

Wheat 115,833 

Rye 2,285 

Oats 28,432 

Average of cotton not given. 

BEET SUGAR. 

Though the manufacture of sugar was commenced in the West 
Indies early in the sixteenth century, yet its use in domestic economy 
did not become general in Europe or America, before the beginning of 
the last century. In the year 1700, only 10,000 tons were used in Great 
Britain, though the English were, at that time, the leading manufac- 
turers of sugar. The consumption of sugar in the British Islands, in 
the year 1870, is stated at 600,000 tons. In this country, the consump- 
tion of sugar is steadily increasing. Since the close of the war, the 
ratio of increase is about 10 per cent, annually, and in the year 1871, 
the sugar consumed in the United States, amounted to 700,000 tons, an 
increase of 15 per cent, on the preceding year. This is the largest con- 
sumption of sugar, in proportion to the population, found in any nation 
on the globe. A very small proportion of the sugar consumed in the 
United States, is produced within our own territory, while in Europe, 
the production of sugar is rapidly increasing, and bids fair soon to- 
render the principal nations of that quarter independent of the tropi- 
cal regions, in regard to the supply of sugar. Since the year 1850, the 
production of sugar from beets, in France, has risen from 60,000 tona 
to 300,000 ; in Austria, from 10,000 to 80,000 ; and Russia, where beet- 
culture was introduced since 1850, now produces 100,000 tons of sugar. 
The increased consumption of sugar, may be taken as the evidence of 
an advance toward a higher civilization. In connection with what 
has been said about sheep, in the body of the work, we cannot forbear 
to suggest, that the Alpaca, of Peru, might be naturalized in Arkan- 
sas. The well known hardihood of the animal, and its plenteous yield 
of wool, certainly would warrant the experiment. In this way, the 
mountains of the State could be fully utilized, and the farmers might 
find in this animal, a rich reward for experimental enterprise. 

Again, Arkansas ought to make her own paints. The material is 
abundant. The supply of ochres, bary tes, uranium manganese, cobalt,^ 
etc., exceeds any probable demand for the manufacture of paints. 



Vlll APPENDIX. 



A REMARK 

When Jas. P. Henry compiled the first^editionof his "Resources of 
Arkansas," he had not been in Little Rock long enough to know there 
was such a thing as a Secretary of State in Arkansas. Or, if he knew 
that fact, he did not know who he was, or that he had an office at the 
State Capital ; and in the first edition, he has no mention of him or it. 
We have no special objection to a man's exercising his Munchausen 
propensities, provided he does not do it at the expense of the State 
and his needy fellow-men. 

It is not too much to say, that such a pamphlet as his is calculated 
to mislead the uninformed immigrant. Exaggerations of the most 
patent and absurd character deform its pages. We have in the body 
of our work, called attention to some of them, and many more we have 
suffered to pass unnoticed. Such statements injure, rather than ben- 
efit a State. They ma^^ not have been intentional ; we are willing to 
attribute them to a want of reliable information, which is always diffi- 
cult to obtain. Doubtless some exaggerations and mis-statements in 
these pages will be found, which owe their origin to the same cause. 
We do not think, however, that they will be found either numerous 
or alarming. We have not compared the free school system of Arkan- 
sas to that of Massachusetts, or asserted tliat the respectable brick 
blocks of Fort Smith, equal those of St. Louis or Chicago. We could 
not do it, witlf our little hatchet. 

United States Land Office, 
Harrison, Ark., 31st Jan'y, 1878. 
Henry L. Burnell, Esq., 

Dear Sir .-—In reply to your letter of the 24th inst., I have to state 
that, the State of Arkansas contains about 10,000,000 acres of public 
lands that are subject to homestead only. The counties of Washing- 
ton and Benton contain about 650,000 acres, subject to homestead. 

Very respectfully, 

E. J. RHODES. 



LIST OF PROJECTED RAILROADS IN ARKANSAS. 

1. Memphis and Kansas City, from Memphis, Tenn., to Kansas 
City, via Springfield, Mo. 

2. Little Rock and Hot Springs, from Little Rock to Hot Springs. 

3. Memphis, Shreveport and Louisiana, from Memphis, Tenn. 
to Shreveport, La. 

4. Kansas City and Ft. Smith, from Ft. Smith to the State line, 
there connecting with the Missouri branch to Kansas City. 

5. St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Little Rock. 

6. St, Louis and Little Rock, to pass from Cuba, on the A. & P. R. 
R., through Batesville, to Little Rock. 

7. White River Valley and Texas R. R. 

8. Arkansas and Louisiana R. R. 

9. Little Rock and Shreveport R. R. 

10, Illinois, Missouri and Texas R, R, 

11. Jonesboro', St. Francis and White River Valley R. R. 



APPENDIX, 



Many of these roads will be built, sooner or later. We have no 
great confidence, though, in some of them, under their present man- 
agement. We have experience enough, of a practical sort, to teach 
us, that paper built railroads are not a source of great profit to citizens 
living along their lines ; notwithstanding they may have good routes 
and high sounding titles. The railroad system of the State, is as yet 
in its infancy, but the time must come, when there will be abundant 
railway facilities throughout the State, and that in the course of ten 
years, from present prospects. 



ABBREVIATIOIs^B OP THE NAMES OF ARK. R. R. 

M. & L. R Memphis and Little Rock. 

L. R. & F. S Little Kock and Fort Smith. 

C. & F Cairo and Fulton. 

M. & K. C Memphis and Kansas Citj^ 

M. O. & R. R ...Mississippi, Ouachita and Red River. 

H. & I. M Helena and Iron Mountain. 

A.. C Aikansas Central. 

L. R., P. B. & N. O Little Rock, Pine Bluff and New Orleans 

St. L. & L. R St. Louis and Little Rock. 

The above list comprises those of chief importance only. 
STATE AID TO RAILROADS. 



Length of 

Name. Miles. Awarded. Issued. Completed. 

M. & L. R. R 131 $1,200,000. ..$1,200,000 131 miles. 

Little Rock and F. S. R. R 150 1,500,000 900,000 

L. R., P. B. & N. O. R. R 160 2,400,000 750,000 

M. O. & Red River R. R 170 2,540,000 450,000 

Arkansas Central R. R... 150 2,250,000 300,000 



60 


do. 


40 


do. 


42 


do. 


45 


do. 



Kansas City & F S. R. R 100 1,500,000. 



Total 850 $11,400,000... $3,600,000 318 miles. 

The cost of building railroads in Arkansas, as compared with other 
States, is very favorable, and as follows : 

states. Miles of Railroad. Population. Cost per Mile. 

Arkansas 128 485,000 $43,562 

Texas 583 750,000 36,044 

Louisiana 375 730,000 40,577 

Kansas 1,150 600,000 40,540 

Missouri 1,800 1,600,000 54,995 

Iowa 2,095 1,250,000 39,407 

Illinois 4,036 , 2,567,532 42,791 

West Virginia 387 400,000 68,498 

Pennsylvania 4,898 3,500,000 52,037 

New York 3,650 4,400,000 50,431 

Massachusetts 1,480 1,350,000 59,704 



APPENDIX. 



LIST OF DEAF xVlUTES IN THE STATE, 
BY COUNTIES, BETWEEN 9 AND 30 YEARS OF AGE. 



COXJNTIES. 



Arkansas 

Ashley 

Benton 

Boone 

Bradley 

Calhoun 

Carroll 

Chicot 

Clark 

Columbia 

Conway 

Craighead 

Crawford 

Crittenden 

Cross 

Dallas 

Desha 

Drew 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Grant 

Green 

Hemstead 

Hot Spring.... 
Independence. 

Izard 

Jackson 

Jefferson 

Johnson 

Lafayette 

Lawrence 

Little River... 



At School 



Not 
At School 



Counties. 



Lincoln 

Madison , 

Marion 

Mississippi..., 

Monroe 

Montgomery , 

Nevada , 

Newton 

Ouachita , 

Perry 

Phillips 

Pike 

Poinsett 

Polk 

Pope 

Prairie 

Pulaski 

Randolph 

Saline 

Sarber 

Scott 

Searcy 

Sebastian 

Sevier 

Sharp 

St. Francis.... 

Union 

Van Buren.... 
Washington.. 

White 

Woodruff 

Yell 



At School 



Not 
At School 



11 
1 
2 
2 
1 



At School 

Not at School. 



72 
117 



Total 189 



APPENDIX. 



XI 



OUR INSANE. 



AN ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF INSANE IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. 

The following is a list of the insane in this State, compiled from 
the census returns, in all but ten counties. Their names and residen- 
ces have also been ascertained : 

Arkansas 1 Lincoln (unknown) 

Ashley 2|Madison (unknown) 

Benton 4, Marion 1 

Boone (unknown )| Mississippi .' 3 

Bradley TJMonroe 

Calhoun 1 Montgomery 6 

Carroll (unknown) Nevada (unknown) 

Chicot OlNewton 

Clark 2 Ouachita 9 

Columbia 4; Perry 

Conway 4 Phillips 1 



Craighead 

Crawford 4 

Crittenden (unknown) 

Cross 2 



Pike 1 

Poinsett 1 

Polk 1 

Pope. (unknown) 



Dallas II Prairie 2 

Desha 2]PulaHki (unknown) 

Drew 5 Randolph 

Franklin 5 Saline 1 

Fulton 3 Sarber (unknown) 

Grant 2|8cott 1 

Greene 10 Searcy 4 

Hempstead ISebastian 3 

Hot Spring S'Sevier 



Independence 6'Sharp 1 

Izard 2|St. Francis 

Jackson OjUnion 2 

Jefferson 1 Van Buren 3 



Johnson 4| Washington (unknown) 

Lafayette 1 White 2 

Lawrence O.Woodruft' 1 

Little River 11 Yell 

Total Hio 



The other ten counties would, undoubtedly, raise the total to 150. 
The above is, doubtless, far below the actual number. Many, whose 
derangement is only slight or recent, and which are the most promis- 
ing cases for treatment, are not reported, from a feeling of delicacy on 
the part of friends, to its being publicly noticed. According to the 
census returns, the ratio of insane, to the whole population is, in Penn- 
sylvania, 1 to 1,050; Indiana, 1 to 1304; Ohio, 1 to 1,020 ; New York, 1 
to 899; Rhode Island, 1 to 607; Massachusetts, 1 to 585; District of 
Columbia, 1 to 363. Undoubtedly, many are overlooked. As evidence 
of this, in 1854, a special census of the insane was taken in Massachu- 
setts, and they were found to be 1 in every 446 of the whole population. 
It would, I think, be within bounds to say that, throughout the United 
—8 



APPENDIX. 



States, they would average 1 in every 1,000. Applying this ratio to 
our State, with a population of 484,471, and there would be 484 insane 
in the State. I beJieve this estimate to be approximately correct. If 
so, it is a disgrace to our christian civilization that no steps have here- 
tofore been taken, for the care and treatment of these poor unfortunates. 

E. P. CARUTHERS. 

A bill is before the General Assembly of the State now, to provide 
for an insane asylum. 



OUR NEW SENATOR. 

The Memphis Appeal^ in a late number, has this to say of our 
newly elected United States senator, S. W. Dorsey : 

" This excellent gentleman was born away down east, in the little 
state of Vermont. He and his competitor for the United States senate. 
Judge Bowen, are of the same age, both having leaped into existence 
in 1840. They came, no doubt, of the intellectual earthquake that 
shook the continent in 1840, made Harrison jiresident, and gave birth 
to the Appeal. VVe don't know any better reason for the Appeal's 
kindness to Bowen and Dorsey, than the fact that the three les enfants 
terribles all bounded, full panoplied for war, into existence in the 
same ever memorable Anno Domini, 1840. Dorssey was an undergrad- 
uate of the senior class in Oberlin university, Ohio, when the tempest 
of revolution struck that dwelling-place of humanities. He was born 
in Vermont, and educated at Oberlin, in the ingrained faith, that all 
men are born free and equal, Jefferson asserted it theoretically, and 
practically believed the assertion false. Dorsey, differing from Jeffer- 
son, is none the worse man for a.' that. It is only curious to us, 
who can never learn the half that Mr. Dorsey knows in this direction, 
that there is no difference among races, which society and govern- 
ment should recognize. Are prejudices of race, of which Mr. Dorsey 
is incapable, products of nature or of education? * What did Living- 
stone tell Stanley about it? They are very>tupid people, however, 
who think Mr. Dorsey unworthy of public trust in other respects, 
because of his peculiar incapacity to distinguish differences which we 
feeL He is only color blind. In every thing else, he is sharper than 
a two-edged sword. He is kind, amiable, full of generous impulses, 
liberal in his opinions, and esteems you none the less if you differ 
from him. One can't help liking Mr. Dorsey, for his very honesty 
and directness of speech, and generous thinking. He has read much, 
speaks admirably, has traveled over Europe, indulged a cultivated 
taste for the fine arts, and loves books. He is a good and true man. 
He entered the federal army in 1861, while yet an undergraduate, and 
was in the successive Virginia campaigns, participating as a captain 
of artillery in all the great battles in Virginia. After the war, he 
became a most successful iron monger, at Sandusky, Ohio. For the 
past two years, he has been president of the wisely-managed Arkan- 
sas Central railroad, having his home in Helena." 

NOTICE. 

It is probable that Danville the present county seat of Yell County, 
will be moved to Dardanelle before long. The change would certainly 
be a good one. 



APPENDIX. xiii 



SKETCH OF SENATOR POWELL CLATTON, 

From the Congressional Directory, 1872. 

Powell Clayton, of Little Rock, was born in Delaware county, 
Pennsylvania, August 7th, 1833: received a common-school education, 
and was afterwards at Partridge's Military Academy. Bristol, Penn. 
Studied civil engineering at Wilmington, Delaware, and followed it 
as a profession ; entered the union army in Kansas, May 9th, 1861, as 
Captain of the first Kansas infantry; was appointed Lt. Colonel of 
the fifth Kansas cavalry, in February, 1862 ; was appointed Colonel of 
the same regiment in March, 1862: and was commissioned Brigadier 
General in August, 1864 ; settleti in Arkansas at the close of the war as 
a planter ; was elected Governor in 1868 ; and was elected to the United 
States Senate, as a Republican, to succeed Alexander McDonald, 
Republican, and took his seat March 25th, 1871. His term of service 
will expire March 3d, 1877. 

CONGRESSMEN. 

Arkansas has four Congressmen. Three from the Congressional 
districts, and one at large. W. J. Hines is the Congressman at large. 
L. C. Gause, from the first ; O. P. Snyder, from the second ; and T. 
M. Gunter or W. W. WUshire, from the third district. 

The Legislature meets the first Monday in January; elections are 
held the first Monday in November. 

STATISTICS OF ARKANSAS. • 

Assessed value of real estate in 1860... , $ 63,254,740 

Entire taxable property in 1870, nearly 120,000',000 

No. acres improved land in 1860 1,933,036 

No. acres improved land in 1870 2,340,687 

Cash value nf farms in 1860 $91,673,403 

Cash value of farms in 1870 80,000*000 

Cash value of implements and machinery in 1860 4|024|ll4 

Cash value of animals in 1860 22.040,211 

Cash value of implements and machinery in 1870 5,642*391 

Cash value of animals in 1870 25,290,397 

No. of 400 lb. cotton bales in 1860 '.367|485 

No. of 450 lb. cotton bales in 1870 30o|oOO 





VARIETIES OF OAK 


1. 


Over-cup or Bur-Oak. 


10. 


Willow Oak. 


2. 


Post Oak. 


11. 


Laurel " 


3. 


White Oak. 


12. 


Water " 


4. 


Swamp Chestnut Oak. 


13. 


Blackjack " 


5. 


Rock " " 


14. 


Spanish 


6. 


Swamp White " 


15. 


Black Oak, Quercitron 


7. 


Yellow Chestnut " 


16. 


Scarlet Oak. 


8. 


Chinquapin " 


17. 


Red 


9. 


Over-cup, {Q. lyrata, Walt.) 


18. 


Pin 



There are many varieties of the other kinds of timber. 



APPENDIX. 



POPULATION OF ARKANSAS BY COUNTIES. 



Counties. 


1870. 


1860. 


1850. 


1840. 


1830. 


1820. 




8,268 
8,042 

13,8il 
7,032 
8,646 
3,853 
5,780 
7,214 

11,953 

11,397 
8,112 
4,577 
8,957 
3,831 
3.915 
5.707 
6.125 
9,960 
9,627 
4,843 
3,943 
7,573 

13,768 
5,877 

14,5.56 
6,806 
7,268 

15,733 
9,152 
9,139 
5,981 
3.236 
8,231 
3,979 


8,844 
8,5:.0 
9,306 


3,245 

2,058 
3,710 


1,346 

""'2/228 


1,426 


1,260 


Ashley . 








Boone 




' 


Bradley 


8,388 
4,103 
9,383 
9,234 
9,735 
12,449 


3,829 

"""4;6i4 
5,115 
4,070 










" '2^844 
3,806 
2,309 


" "1,165 
1,369 




Carroll 




Chicot 




Clark 


1,040 






Conway 


6,' 97 
3,066 
7,^50 
4,920 

'"8;283 
6,4.59 
9,078 
7,298 
4,024 

"■"5,843 

13,989 
5,635 

It, 307 
7,215 

10,493 

14,971 
7,612 
8,464 
9,372 


3,583 

'""7,960 
2,648 

■"6,877 
2,911 
3,276 
3,972 
1,819 

""2, .593 
7,672 
3,609 
7,767 
M 3,213 
^ 3,086 
5,834 
5,227 
5,220 
5,274 


2,892 

"4,266 
1,561 

" 1 598 


982 

" 2J446 
1,272 




Craiffhead . 




Crawford 




Crittenden 




Dallas . 




Desha 




Drew 








2,665 






Fulton 






Grant 


" 1,586 
4,921 
1,907 
3,669 
2,240 
1,.540 
2,566 
3,483 
2,200 
2,835 











Hempstead . . . . . .... 


2,512 

458 
2,031 
1,266 

333 

772 

""748 
2,806 


2 248 


Hot Spring 

Independence 








Jackson 




Jefferson 




Lafayette . 






5,602 


Little River 


Madison « . 


7,740 
6,192 


4,823 
2,308 


2,775 
1,325 












Miller 


366 


999 


Mississippi 


3,6 'S 

8,336 

2,984 

4,374 

12,975 

2,685 

15,372 

3,788 

1,720 

3,376 

8,386 

5,604 

32,066 

7,466 

3,911 

7,483 

5,614 

12,940 

4,492 

5,400 

6,714 

10,571 

• 6,107 

17,266 

10,347 

6.891 

8,048 


3,895 
5,657 
3,633 
3,393 

12,936 
2,465 

14,877 
4,025 
3,621 
4,262 
7,883 
8,854 

11,699 
6,261 
6,640 
5,145 
5,271 
9,238 

10,516 

""8,672 

12,288 

5,-57 

14,673 

8,316 


2,368 
2,049 
1,958 
1,758 
9,5U 
978 
6,935 
1,861 
2,308 
1,263 
4,710 
2,097 
5,657 
3.275 
3,903 
3,083 
1,979 


1,416 
936 






461 
























Perry 






Phillips 

Pike 


3,547 

969 

1,320 

"2",856 


1,1.52 


1,201 
........ 


Poinsett 






Polk 


'i'483 




Pope 




Prairie 




Pulaski 

Randolph . 


5,350 
2,196 
2,061 
1,694 
936 


2,395 


1,923 








Scott 






Searcy 






Sebastian . . ..,' .. ' .. 






Sevier 


4,240 


2,810 


634 




Sharp 




St. Francis 


4,479 

10,298 
2,864 
9,970 
2,619 


2,499 
2.889 
1,518 
7,148 
929 


1,56.5 
640 












\Vashin£rton . 


2,182 




White . • ' 




Woodruflf 






Yell 


6,333 


3,341 
















Total 


484,471 


435,450 


209,8.7 


97,574 


30,388 

1 


14,300 







Total population in 1810 was 1,062 (then in Louisiana Territory.) 



A new county to be called Baxter, is likely to be formed by the 
present Legislature, from parts of Marion and adjoining counties. 



APPENDIX. 



Fom the report of the State Superintendent of public instruction, 
for two years ending September 30, 1870, we extract the following 
encouraging 

GENERAL SUMMARY. 

Number of children, of school age, in 1870 180,274 

Number of children, of school age, in 1869 176,910 

Increase 3,364 

Number of children attending school in 1870 107,908 

Number of children attending school in 1869 67,412 

Increase 40,460 

Number of teachers employed in 1870 2,302 

Number of teachers employed in 1869 1,335 

Increase 967 

Number of school houses built in 1869 and 1870 657 

Number of school houses built in and prior to 1868 632 

Total 1,289 

Whole amount paid teachers in 1870 $405,748 00 

Whole amount paid teachers (7 districts) in 1869 188,397 00 

Increase 217,351 00 

Number of persons subject to per capita tax in 1869 79,544 

Number of persons subject to per capita tax in 1868 71,891 

Increase 7,563 

Amount of tax collected from this source for 1869 $61,465 00 

Amount of tax collected from this source for 1868 52,090 00 



Increase ; 9,365 00 

Apportionment of State fund fjr 1868 $190,492 86 

Apportionment of State fund for 1869 187,427 08 

District tax in 1869 $820,583 79 

District tax in 1868 105,235 00 



Increase 215,348 79 

Number of schools taught in 1870 2,537 

Number of schools taught in 1869 1,489 

Increase 1,048 

ILLITEKATE POPUL A.TION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



White 2,879,543 

Colored 2,763,901 

Chinese and Indians... 16,540 

Total 5,660,674 



Of these, excluding Chinese and 
Indians, there are : 

Males 2,608.847 

Females 3,035,687 



Total 5,645,534 



APPENDIX. 



ILLITERATE POPULATION OF ARKANSAS. 

In 1860, there wore 24,904 free white persons, over twenty years of 
age, that could not read or write, out of 131,541, equal to 18.93 per cent, 
of the whole. Including the slave population, and of course there 
would have been many more. In 1870, there were 111,799 persons, of 
the age of ten years and upwards, who could not read ; 133,339 who 
could not write, of whom 296 only were foreign. The above figures 
are from the Report of the Commissioner of Education, and from 
Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia for 1871 , These being correct, it follows 
that, calling the present population of the State a round half million, 
there is more than one fourth of the number, who have to sign their 
names with a X. Let us also state, for the benefit of Mr. Henry, that 
while Massachusetts spends $16 45 per capita, on her children of school 
age, Arkansas spends $3 97. If he cracks this nut, we will find him 
several others, of a similar character. 



THE SLEEPING BEAUTY. 

Arkansas may fitly be compared to the *' Sleeping Beauty" of our 
childhood's tales. For a long time she has been unconscious of the 
progress which the world is making. Her unlimited natural resour- 
ces still lie undeveloped. The great mineral wealth that lies hidden 
in her bosom has always been as useless as a "jewel in a swine's 
snout." But now, the iron hoofs of the steed of her " railroad prince" 
are beginning to ring in the distance. Soon will he wake her with 
his happy embrace, and she will begin a new existence. Her sleeping 
people will be stimulated to industry, and will go to work in earnest. 
The " bull tongue," will give way to the genuine plow, and the stout 
husbandman, stirred to strange energy by the whistle of the iron 
horse, will seize it, and refuse to turn backward until the soil has 
yielded up its tribute to the wealth of the people, and the State has 
proudly |taken its place as one of the brightest gems upon the bosomi 
of our great Republic. 

The above is, substantially, an extract from a debate of W. J. 
Waggener, a student of the State Qniversity. 



The meteorology report of the State, for 1870, taken at the centre 
of the State, by daily observations, generally at 7 a. m., 2 and 9 p. M., 
show the maximum, minimum and average temperature, for every 
month in the year, to be as follows : 

Months. Date. Maximum. Minimum. Av. Tbm. 

January 9 to 19 73 deg. 26 deg. 45 d. 

February 15 to 20 69 deg. 14 deg. 46 d. 4 m. 

March 9 to 24 73 deg. 26 deg. 49 d. 1 m. 

April 16 to 22 84 deg. 33 deg. 61 d. 3 m. 

May 7 to 23 93 deg. 52 deg. 71 d. 8 m. 

June 8 to 22 94 deg. 60 deg. 76 d. 6 m. 

July 8 to 16 94 deg. 68 deg. 81 d. 8 m. 

August 13 to 30 90 deg. 69 deg. 81 d. 4 m. 

September 6 to 28 96 deg. 59 deg. 76 d. 6 m. 

October 20 to 30 87 deg. 42 deg. 63 d. 7 m, 

November 4 to 26 86 deg. 31 deg. 64 d. 8 m. 

December 7 to 24 73 deg. 4 deg. 38 d. 5 m. 



APPENDIX. 



xvii 



PS d^ 



S- B. ^ 

•=3B B 

» c c 



fe» ^ ? 

r t; -• 

^ & ^ 

H- - 

B I p^ 

O ™ CD 
i ^^ 

m !1 



O 

P 






^ 

►d 



<^ •-« >^ ii 



CO H, 



en 05 -J r^ CD ^, 

I— ' H-i 05 00 ^1 -;2 

coj^ wl^ ►-U J°° "^ 

q>- o|-^ oi^ 2»i- 



05 C7' » 

00 cn cn Cn 
wu cn cd _ ^ 



^ 



=^5 



>^ 05 --1 CO 00 
»4i. Oi 4^ O bO 



05 Cn 
^, 00 00 






I CO 



00 f-' 



00 
O 



M Oi cn 
rfi. fcO 00 



I b 



CO 00 :o 



p* . I CO £:. 
o -1 I • s 



l_i CO 
cn hfi. 



00 o 



00 GO 



cn *t». 

►-» bo 



cn I 



I 5-^ I 



Oi pi 

CO I ** 



bo o 






5- I ? 



\ !5g;§s3Sg3i£:&§i 




00 




MIMMssM^ 




1 




i : i : : : | Z^ S S cn cn 


1868. 1 
Th'r. 



11.09 
67.57 


cn 


9.16 
4.69 


4^ 


CO 


6.47 

8.75 
5.40 

7.38 
3.87 


to 

s 


Ef. 

CO 5 




1 : 




i 




: 


<i Cn 
-1 CO 

^ 05 






5" 


: 
• 1 


: : 
: 


: ' 








Rain. 











-W 


!.. ^ 


Cn 


CO 


bO 


BP 


D O 


•>_. 


00 


'^ 


^^B- 


-4 


05 


OS 


cn 





4^ O 



i_t i_i )— ' I— ' CO 



— 
















W-P3 


CO 


o 


"-» 


~q 


4^ 


•-* 


o *-■ 


e ss 


,_» 




cn 


Oi 


1— k 


CO 


^ "-J 


^a 


tc 


CO 


CO 


^ 


CO 


o 


CO Cn 





o 
o 
o 

b< 

c^ 

a 



o 

a 

p 



I 



XVlll 



APPENDIX. 



1 - 






> 


^ -S 


0) 




Xi 


^^^ 


O 


g t 


-o 


o ■" 


a 


^ § 


ra- 


< ^ 


W 


O Qj 




« ■§ 


(.) 


>;> s 








^ *^ 


rt 






o e 


o 


^ s 


^ 


3 § 


h4 


P - 


w 


?^ s 


M 




H-l 
< 

o 


s 




9 " 




^ ^ 




-1 ^ 




so 




^ ^ 

^ 'S 




;s s. 




»^ 












& '^' 




s ^ 




50 




fe;"^ 




Si 

^ 8 




^ 




^ S 




S -^ 




5 ^ 




^ ^> 




P^ :S 




a, ^ . 




5:i (M 




^ 1 J^ 




o- ^ - 








!<: « '^ 






b N - 




^ s «^ 




^ 




::^ 




S 




^ 





•sai.ias a . . 
JO ?u3?xa »• 55 53 



•Jt?3Jt 



•jaiuiAV 



.lauiuins 



•SuTidg 



•jaquiaoaa 



•jaquidAoj^ 



so •>* -i* 



5 § ;5 

S* 2 •« 



r- CO — 
CO lo o 

■^ !r; >« 



•aaqojoo 


i § 


4.09 
3.3, 
3.00 


o 
d 


o 

CO 






•aaquiajdag 


i 


CO 


• (M 


■ 




to 

d 


^ 

d 


•(jsiiSnY 


^ 

M 




: *= 


i 


^ 

CO 




^ 


•Xinf 


so 






o 


c4 


CO 




•auni' 


in 


co' 


: i 


d 


CO 


So 

00 


CO 


•iCuK: 




§ 


i : 


d 


^ 
»> 


30 
CO 


00 

d 


•n-iclv 


^ 
-<jl 




i ; 




^ 


in 


»n 


•qojBK 


3 










00 


§5 

CO 


•iCaBnjqa^ 








00 

CO 

OS 


^ 

d 


d 




•^jBuaBf 




g 


': 




d 


s 

N 


CO 


•■eas SAoqi? j 


1^ 


§ . 


. 


; 


i 



•apmiSaoT 



S § J5 



•apmijB-I 



CO 01 CO CO 



w ;-] p w ^ 



rH 




^ 








. a 








o 




^ 




^ 


, 


« 


be 


3 


a 


P3 


a 


•^ 


o 


.a 


c 


Cj 


^ 






M 


h^J 


o 




S 


<D 






1^ 




•-3 


u 






ri 


0) 


0) 


.'^ 


"TS 


> 


g 


4) 






O 




• ^ 


n 


ja 


;^ 










B 


^ 














Q 


d 




Oj 


5^, 






fc. 


u 




D 


o 






a 


c« 


9 


a 



^ 


o 


..- 


« 


>^ 




1 


1 


<^ 






>> 


a? 






a 


|3 


o 


a 


a 


cu 


o 


^ 

S 


a 

t3 


CO 




4^ 


>> 


CO 


fl 




11 


<13 


-«! 


^ 


CO 






a 


t» 








fj 


;h 


o 


^ 


^ 


I 


3 




:/j 


S 




w 


a> 


> <j 










u 


J4 


rr 




o 


^ 



APPENDIX. XiX 



LIST OF JSIAYIGABLE STREAMS. 

1. The Mississippi river forms the eastern boundary of the State, 
aflbrding steamboat facilities to the counties of Chicot, Desha, Phil- 
lips, Crittenden and Mississippi. 

2. The Arkansas river rises in Colorado, and enters the western 
border of the State at Fort Smith, running through the State south- 
east for 600 miles, affording steamboat navigation its whole course to 
the following counties : Desha, Arkansas, Jefferson, Pulaski, Conway, 
Perry, Pope, Yell, Johnson, Franklin, Crawford and Sebastian. 

3. The Ouachita river rises in Polk county, and affords steam 
navigation to Arkadelphia, 200 miles, furnishing transportation for 
Ashley, Union, Calhoun, Ouachita, Dallas, Clark and Montgomery 
counties. 

4. The White river is navigable to Bates ville, 400 miles, and 
during high water 100 miles further, affording facilities for shipment 
to Desha, Arkansas, Monroe, Woodruff, White, Jackson and Inde- 
pendence counties. 

5. The Saint Francis river is navigable to the Missouri line, 
through the counties of Phillips, Saint Francis, Crittenden, Cross, 
Mississippi, Poinsett, Craighead and Greene. 

6. Black river is navigable 200 miles, affording water facilities to 
Jackson, Independence, Lawrence, Greene and Randolph counties. 

7. Saline River is navigable about 100 miles, running through 
the counties of Hot Spring, Dallas, Jefferson, Bradley, Drew, Ashley 
and Calhoun. 

8. Red river, running through the south-western portion of the 
State, is navigable in the counties through which it passes, viz: 
Little River, Hempstead and Lafayette, a distance of about 100 miles. 

9. Bayou Kartholomew empties into the Ouachita river, and is 
navigable, in this State, about 150 miles, affording steamboat facilities 
to Ashley, Chicot, Drew and Desha counties. 

Of the sixty-one counties in the State, forty-three are watered by 
streams, each navigable, affording to Arkansas more than twenty-five 
hundred miles of water highway, and it must be remembered that the 
ice king never obstructs navigation in the State of Arkansas. 



BEE CULTURE. 

Arkansas is justly celebrated for her abundance of flowers, which 
make her specially adapted to the apiary. Little has been done in 
the way of s^^stematic culture of bees from the reason that "wild " 
honey is so plenty and that random hives badly managed have thus 
far supplied the home demand. In the prairie* state of Iowa in 1864, 
'66 and '68, the average number of hives reported was 85,135, and in 
1864 the yield of honey was 1,128,399 pounds; but then Mrs. Ellen P. 
Tupper lives in Iowa. Dr. Leighton, spoken of in connection with 
Marion county, is the only one in this State that we know of who has 
given skillful attention to bees, and he has met with marked success, 
as his honey and hives are ever read^^ to testify. Arkansas could add 
a million dollars annually to her exchequer by proper attention to this 
neglected department of 'industry. 



XX APPENDIX. 



"REFORM SCHOOL." 

Arkansas has none, not certainly for lack of need, but because 
" reform " movements in the State thus far have been looked on with 
suspicion, especially since the last political campaign. If there was 
such a school and it could be made to include all the recent 
"Refor-r-rm" party of the State, with suitable provisions to give 
them a good moral, religious and intellectual training, it would result 
in much practical good to themselves and the State. We know of 
some " minstrels," also, who might be profitably included. 



PISTOL CUIVALRY. 

. Although the chivalric accomplishment of ripping open the 
bowels of an adversary with an ''Arkansas toothpick " has nearly 
passed into disrepute, there still remains what may be best described 
as " pistol chivalry," who seem to consider it a high art to drink " blue 
lightning" or "kill-me-quick " whisky and brandish a revolver or 
two carelessly about the streets or in the vicinity of persons who do 
not always enjoy such high-bred exhibitions of a peaceful civilization. 
We presume that the time is not immeasurably hence when this 
feature of Arkansas " border-ruffianism" will, like wolves and wild 
cats pass away. 

Let all good Christians pray 
That God may speed the day. 



STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

The history of Arkansas never has been written, and we urge the 
necessity of attention to this before it becomes almost or quite impos- 
sible to collect the material. A State Historical Society, under the 
auspices of the State University, or in any good hands, would be 
invaluable to the State. It should collect and preserve as far as pos- 
sible all material relating to her past and current hlstor3^ Who 
seconds the motion. 



LIST OF STATE OFFICERS OF ARKANSAS. 

OvmcK. Name. County. 

Governor Elisha Baxter Independence. 

Secretary of State J. M. Johnson Madison. 

Treasurer Henry Page Pulaski. 

Auditor Stephen Wheeler Prairie. 

Attorney General T. D. W. Youley Pulaski. 

Supt. Piib. Inst ..J. C. Corbin, (colored) Pulaski. 



APPENDIX. 



xxl 



Chief Justice. 
Associates 



SUPREME COURT. 

RESIDENCE. 

John McClure Little Rock. 

Lafayette Gregg Fayetteville. 

Marshall L. Stephenson Helena. 

E. J. Searle Arkadelphia. 

John Bennett Helena. 



CIRCUIT JUDGES. 

First Circuit Vacancy. 

Second ** Wm. C. Hazeldine. 

Third " Vacancy, Ex-Governor Baxter. 

Fourth ** J. H. Huckelberry. 

Fifth " E.D.Ham. 

Sixth " Wm. N. May. 

Seventh " John Whytock. 

Eighth " T. G. T. Steele. 

Ninth " Geo. W. McCown. 

Tenth " Henry B. Morse. 



CRIMINAL JUDGES OF ARKANSAS. 

Little Rock J. P. Redmond. 

Jefferson Countv Ira McL. Barton. 

Phillips County C. G. Waters. 



CHANCERY COURT. 

T. D. W. Youley, Chancellor. Now Attorney General. 

W. J. Warwick, probable successor ; Ex-Criminal Judge of Little Rock 



LIST OF COUNTY CLERKS AND SHERIFFS IN 
ARKANSAS AT THIS DATE. 



€ouNTT. Clerk. ' Sherifp. 

Ashley W. J. White M H. Deane. 

Arkansas E. P. G. Tackett E. R. Wiley. 

Bradley A. N. Bond C. C. Ganaway. 

Benton John Black Wm. Isbell. 

Boone N. B. Crump Isaac Feeback. 

Cross T. O. Fitzpatrick L. Chapelle. 

Calhoun James H. Means A. H. Cone. 

Carroll J. P. Fancher S. L. Hayhurst. 



APPENDIX. 



COUNTY CLERKS AND SHERIFFS.— Con^mwed. 

County. Clerk. Sheriff. 

Chicot H. W. Graves J. M. Mason. 

Clarke L. B. Clarke Geo. B. Grayson. 

Columbia Dave Dixon Quincy Couch. 

Conway Wm. Kerney T. B. Stout. 

Craighead John C. Knight Sam. Nash 

Crawford Wm. Bowlin J. P Grady. 

Dallas J. L. Cheatham R. W. Cheatham. 

Drew R.J. Hyatt T. W. Haynes. 

Desha R. E. Doran A. A. Edington. 

Franklin A. R. Young ...W. A. Adams. 

Fulton W. P. Rhea W. T. Livingston. 

Grant Thomas B. Rhodes Thomas W. Quinn. 

Hempstead Richard Samuels J. W. Vance. 

Hot Spring A. H. Bassett E. A. Nichols. 

Izard F. W. Perrin John M. Hinkle. 

Independence W. H. Berr^^ J. W. Kennedy. 

Jefferson R. H. Stanford J. F. Vaughn. 

Jackson .M. McCanany* Jas. S. Smith. 

Lawrence Wm. McBride W. G. Wasson. 

Lafayette Henry Moore Geo. H. Thompson. 

Little River Daniel Simpson John Reed. 

Lincoln Alfred Wiley ...B. F. Sanders. 

Monroe T. P. Wilson A. Gallagher. 

Marion Wm. N. Noe H. W. Hudson. 

Montgomery Geo. W. Gray Geo. H. Speers. 

Newton Dennis Cole A. J. Reeves 

Nevada Wm. R. White Jacob N. Hulse. 

Ouachita A. A. Tufts P. L. Lee. 

Pulaski J. R. Roland W. S. Oliver. 

Phillips S. I.Clark Austin Barrow. 

Perry G. W. Manes W. P. Hainbright. 

Pike H. P. Howard W. J. Reed. 

Polk W. J. Davis Geo. R. Miller. 

Searcy C. A. P. Horn B. F. Henley. 

Saline J. P. Henderson W. W. Thompson. 

Sevier Jas H. Denson R. D. Murphy. 

St. Francis W. H Wills 

Sebastian Geo. N. Spradling John H. McClure. 

Sharp James P. Cochrane T. Y. Huddleston. 

Sarber W. K. Griffith James L Garner. 

Union J. A. Barnes Lee Clow. 

Van Buren N. A. Sanders M. C. Rerdell. 

Washington P. R. Smith Z. N. Pettigrew. 

Woodruff. D. H. Johnson J. A. Bosley. 

White Albert P. Sanders N. B. Petly. 

Yell John F. Choate Joseph A. Wilson. 



If any one discovers any errors in the above, we shall be obliged 
for the correction. As far as we know it is correct up to Feb. 25, 1873. 

• Now Adjutant General by appointment. 



APPENDIX. xxiii 



Official Statement of the Debt of Arkansas. 



Office State Treasurer, \ 
Little Rock, July 31, 1872. J" 

Six percent. Funded Debt Bonds representing total 
of Funded Debt when all outstanding bonds are 
exchanged $4,520,000 

Deduct Unfunded Bonds held by Gov- 
ernment of the U. S. for account of 
Indian Trust Fund, and offset by 
claims due from General Govern- 
ment to State of Arkansas $1,200,000 

Deduct also Unfunded Bonds in hands 

of creditors, or destroyed 470,000— $1,670,000 

Leaves Funded Debt Bonds issued or exchanged 

to date $2,850,000 

Seven per cent. State Aid Railroad Bonds author- 
ized to be issued, (limited to 850 miles of Rail- 
road 11,400,000 

State Aid Bonds issued to date 4,350,000 

Seven per cent. Levee Bonds issued for the con- 
struction of levees, being total of issue authorized $3,000,000 

Less amount retired and cancelled by conversion 

into lands to date 815,000 

Levee Bonds outstanding 2,185,000 

Seven per cent. Ten Year Deficiency Bonds 300,000 

Outstanding Treasurer's Certificates and Auditor's 

Warrants 200,000 

Total State debt $9,885,000 

Against this indebtedness are present available assets as follows, 
viz. : 

Mortgages held by State on highly improved cotton 

plantations, estimated, will realize $3,000,000 

Lands owned by the State, valued at 1,500,000 

Railroad lines and property subject to lein in res- 
pect of State Aid Bonds pledged or awarded to 
Railroad Companies covering 850 miles $11,400,000 

Less by amount of State Aid Bonds yet unissued, 

covering 490 miles 7,050,000 

Balance, or State Aid Bonds issued to date, cover- 
ing 360 miles 4,350,000 

Amount due from Memphis and Little Rock Rail- 
road Co 140,000 

Total assets $8,990,000 



XXiV APPENDIX. 



Markets of the State. 



LITTLE ROCK. 

THE MONEY MARKET. 

Buying. Sllldtg. 

Gold $1 09 $1 12 

Silver 1 04 1 06 

Exchange on N*^w York par ^ prm. 

Exchange on St. Louis i dis | prm. 

Exchange on Memphis 1 dis ^ prm. 

Exchange on New Orleans | dis par. 

State Scrip 63 65 

Levee Bonds 20 22 

Little Rocli Certificates of Indebtedness 92 95 

Little Rock Certificates of Indebtedness on 

Banknote paper 99 

Little Rock City Bonds on Banknote paper... 99 

Pulaski County Warrants 45 50 

Pulaski county one year bonds, funded, 8 per cent. 

COTTON. 
Middling, ; low middling, 17c ; good ordinary, 16c ; ordinary, I5c. 

GENERAL MARKET. 

Butter— Country, 25@35c. ; western, 30@40c. per lb. 

Coffee— 22@24c. per lb. 

Corn Meal— $4 25@4 75 per bbl. 

Eggs— 50c. per doz. 

Flour— 9 50@12 50 per bbl. 

Fruit— x\pples : Choice, $5 00@6 00 per bbl ; good, $4 50@5 00 per 
bbl. 

Grocertes— Soap, per box, $4 00@4 50; candles, $8 75@9 00; keg 
lard, 13c ; sardines per case, $23 00 ; cove oysters, per case of two dozen, 
1 lb., $4 00; 2 lb; $5 50; peaches, per dozen $2 50@3 50: strawberries 
per dozen, $3 00; pineapples, $3 25; blackberries, $3 00; tomatoes, 
$2 25@3 25 ; plantation molasses, by the bbl., 80@90c. per gallon ; syr- 
rup, $1 00@1 25. 

Hams— Sugar cured, 18@20c. 

Meats— Clear sides, 11 ; dry salt, 10 ; shoulders 9. 

Poultry— Chickens, buying at $2 50@3 00 per doz; selling, $3 00 
@3 50 per doz. 

Salt— Per bbl., $4 50 ; per sack, $3 50. 

Sweet Potatoes -Per bushel, $1 75@2 00. 

Sugar— New Orleans fair, 12^@13^; New Orleans refined, 14i@15^; 
coffee A, 15@16; crushed, powdered and granulated, 16@17i. 

Teas— $1 00@1 75 per lb. 



APPENDIX. 



XXV 



PINE BLUFF. 



Sheetings : 

Laurell Hill A 4-4... 
Granville RR 7-8.... 

Arka4-4 14^ 

Arka 7-8 13 

Muscogee 12J 

Sheetings ; Rrown : 

Laurell Hill, A 4-4 15 

Langley, A 7-8 13 

Pepperall, N 7-8 13 

Indian Orchard 7-8 12 

Sheetings; Bleached: 

Lonsdale, 4-4 18 

Hope, 4-3 16 

Wnatchur, 4-4 25 

New York Mills, 27 

Other Brands 10 

Flannels: 

Red 40 

Twilled 50 

White 27^ 



15@16 



40 



Groceries at Pine Bluff are inu 



I Cambrics : 

i Roll 12^ 

! Flat 12| 

Paper 14 @20 

Jeans : 

8outhwark 60 

Waterloo 37^ 

Hill Side 16 

! Kentucky. 

: BowlingGreen 75 

i Gulf Mills 50 

I Other Brands 25 

Standard Brands 12 

Wamsutta 8 

Other Brands 7 

Drillings : 

Prescott 18 

I Massachusetts 15 

I Prints : 

I Standard 11^ 

Wamsutta 8| 

ch the same as Little Rock. 



FORT SMITH. 



Bacon, hog round,. 



.6@9 



Butter 25 35 

Eggs 25 

Cotton 15 16 

Corn 65 70 

Corn Meal, per bushel 

Coffee, retail 30 35 

Chickens, per dozen 2 00 3 00 

Coal Oil, per gallon 1 00 

Coal, per bushel 20 

Domestic, brown, per yard, 10 12 
" bleached " 12 15 



Stripes and Plaids per yd. 
Cottonades, "... 

Sugar, per lb 

Molasses, per gallon 

Lard, per lb 

Apples, ^bush. out of wag. 

Iron, bar 

Nails, retail, per lb.. 

" per keg 7 

Flour, sack, per 100 5, 

" barrel! 9. 



10 
20 
12| 
75 
12 
75 
7 
10 
50 
00 



30 
25 
14 

1.00 
13 

1.50 
10 
12 

8.50 

5.50 



00 12.00 



FAYETTEVILLE GROCERY MARKET. 



Apples 

Butter 

Coffee 

Eggs 

Fish — Mackerel 

" Cod 

*' Cod Kits 2 

" Salmon 

Potatoes 

Rice 

Sugar — Brown 

White 

Soda 

Tea — Green 1 

" Black 1 

Whisky 2 

Flour 4 

Sorghum 



30@ 40 


20 


25 


26^ 


331 




10 


15 


20 


12^ 




50 


3 00 




3 75 


50 


60 


13 


m 


13 


16f 


16 


20 


9 


12^ 


60 


2 00 


28 


1 40 


00 


8 00 


00 


5 00 


40 


50 



Syrup 1 

Pork 4 

Bacon 

Nails 7 

Salt, per bbl. and lb 4 

Canned Peaches 

" Tomatoes 

•' Pears 

'' Strawberries... 

Vinegar 

Coal Oil 

Soap. 

Tobacco— Plug 

*' Smoking 

Candy 

Crackers 

Oysters, perdoz. cans...l 

" per can 



00@1 
00 7 
10 

60 9 
00 



25 
60 



25 
20 
15 
00 
3 
40 
35 
50 
50 
50 

10 
25 
60 
50 
16 
85 
35 



XXVI APPENDIX. 



MONETARY REPORT. 

By W. H. Etter, Banker, Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

Buying. Selling. 

Gold 110 111 

Silver 103 105 

United States 5-20s 111@113 113@116 

State Scrip 65 75 

Auditor's Warrants 65 75 

Wasliington County Scrip 40 50 

St. Louis and New York Exchange Par ^ pr. 

London Excliange Pound Sterling 6 00 

Bank Discounts 18@24 



5FP 28 1945 



